Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ might be receiving mixed reactions from the audience and the critics but it unanimously brought a whole lot of love for Sonakshi Sinha. The historical drama series sees her playing the stunning, shrewd and sardonic antagonist Fareedan fighting a battle singled-handedly to rise to power and reign over Heeramandi.
What also adds character to Fareedan is the fact that she’s a woman with a fluid gender, an aspect that the makers subtly hinted at rather than exploring it in a more elaborate fashion. In an exclusive conversation with News18 Showsha, Sonakshi addresses the same and says, “Initially, sir (Bhansali) had told me that Fareedan is very fluid. At that point of time, a lot of it did happen. And in a place like Heeramandi, people were very open about it. Even Ustadji is very openly a gay man. Sir wanted to explore it in different ways. What Fareedan has been through in her life also has impacted her in a way.”
The scene, for the unversed, projects Fareedan engaging in a foreplay with one of her maids, which eventually implies an impending sexual interaction between them. “She was sold off when she was a nine-year-old girl. Maybe that’s why she absolutely hates men. It could be that. They’ve left it very open. They didn’t explore it any further than that one scene where she meets Choudhary saab (a nawab) and is with her maid. It’s just a very vast world and sir has tapped into different aspects of it in small ways,” remarks Sonakshi.
Working on Heeramandi not only gave her the opportunity of collaborating with Bhansali for the first time but also indulge the fashion student in her. Like other characters, Fareedan was seen dressed in the most exquisite outfits and talking about her favourite ensemble from the show, Sonakshi shares, “My Tilasmi Baahein saree was my favourite outfit. I kept it. I told myself that I’ve to have it and I requested sir if I can keep it. The song turned out to be so special. That memory is so strong for me that I’ll remember the day of the song shoot for the rest of my life.”
The 36-year-old has also been receiving immense love from her contemporaries and peers from the film industry. However, it was Rekha’s words of appreciation at the Heeramandi screening that has stayed back with Sonakshi. “It was magical. I saw a screening like that after years. That was one of the biggest premieres I’ve been to in my entire career. I met so many people that day. But Rekha ma’am went gaga over Heeramandi and was so supportive and encouraging,” she says.
The Dahaad actor further reveals that the iconic star was ‘thrilled’ with the show. “She told me such beautiful things that I was just awe-struck. I couldn’t believe my ears that Rekha ji was praising me. I’ll always remember that one conversation with her. She always tells my mum that she’s my ‘other mumma’. There’s a lot of love between us. We had a beautiful moment together,” she adds.
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