Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s latest show ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’ has been making headlines since its release. Abha Ranta, who portrayed young Mallika Jaan in the series, recently shared her experience working with the renowned filmmaker. Ranta revealed that Bhansali provided her the necessary space as an actor and never raised his voice at her, allowing her to perform effectively.
In an interview with Filmibeat, Ranta confessed that if Bhansali had raised his voice, she would have been deeply affected due to her sensitive nature. She recounted her nervousness on the first day of shooting, particularly during a scene where her character’s son, Imaad, is taken away. After multiple takes and sensing the growing tension, Ranta retreated to her vanity van, worried she was failing.
Bhansali, however, offered her guidance on voice modulation and granted her the freedom to find her own way. “He kind of gave me that space as an actor to come into my own,” Ranta said. She appreciated Bhansali’s gentle approach, saying, “He would not raise his voice at me, which I was very happy about because I am the kind of person who would start crying if he raised his voice at me.”
Ranta emphasized Bhansali’s understanding and gentle demeanor, noting that she was able to meet his creative expectations. “Creatively, I understood what he wanted and I was able to deliver it, so he didn’t have to be that way with me,” she explained. Bhansali’s instructions were always given in a calm and supportive manner, which Ranta found to be the perfect tone for communication.
‘Heeramandi,’ directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, features a stellar cast including Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, Sharmin Segal Mehta, and Taha Shah Badussha in lead roles.
