Farida Jalal opens up about Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'persuasive' pitch for 'Heeramandi'

Farida Jalal recently made a shocking revelation about her experience while shooting the Netflix series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar.

The Veteran actress, who reappeared on screen after a long hiatus, got candid about her on-set experience with director Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

During an exclusive interview with Galatta India, the Kuch Kuch Hota Hai star mentioned that she refused to act for the wine scene in the historical drama series.

Speaking exclusively, she said, “I froze.”

The 76-year-old actress, who played the role of Qudsia Begum in the TV show, revealed that the Indian filmmaker wanted her to perform a scene at a party which involved enjoying wine and a cigarette with other nawabzadis, on her son’s return from abroad.

In addition, the Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge actress praised the 62-year-old director for not forcing her to act in the role, and the scene was ultimately removed from the plot.

Expressing pride, Farida was delighted with her role in the 2024 series, believing that the cancelled scene wouldn’t have done justice to the character.

Heeramandi, which premiered in May 2024, garnered appreciation from all over the world, becoming one of the most searched shows of the year.