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Sanjeeda Shaikh Reflects on Success and Future Projects after Heeramandi
Last Updated: December 17, 2024, 06:23 IST
Sanjeeda Shaikh’s Rise in the Industry Following Heeramandi
This year marked a significant comeback for Sanjeeda Shaikh, who made notable appearances in both *Fighter* and *Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar*. Despite her smaller role in the star-studded *Fighter*, she managed to make a profound impact. In contrast, *Heeramandi* garnered her widespread acclaim and an enthusiastic reception from audiences. She wrapped up the year with a music video titled *Tum Kya Ho*, featuring John Abraham.
In an insightful conversation with News18 Showsha, Sanjeeda reflected on her career trajectory, saying, “I’m in that phase of my life where I want my today to be better than yesterday and my tomorrow to be better than today. I want 2025 to be bigger and better. But what a year this has been! For an actor like me, it has been a blessing. As an actor, it’s creatively very satisfying to work with great actors and makers.” She also shared her anticipation for future projects, including *Kun Faya Kun* and the sequel to *Heeramandi*.
Sanjeeda provided insights into the eagerly awaited *Heeramandi 2*, which was teased with a flash mob event in June. “I’m sure that Heeramandi 2 will be bigger and better. I don’t know when we’ll start shooting; it’s unpredictable when it comes to sir (Sanjay Leela Bhansali). So, the call to return to that set is also unpredictable. But all I can say is that the actors are ready.” The sequel promises to delve into the lives of courtesans in the film industry.
Since the release of *Heeramandi*, Sanjeeda has experienced a notable shift in her career. She expressed that she can now confidently proclaim she has been ‘Bhansalified.’ “I used to watch this show where some actors would come and say that they’ve been Bhansalified and I used to wonder when my turn would come. When I go for my meetings now, the maker talks about how good a performer I am. And that’s a great feeling. I’ve always believed that my work should speak for itself and I’m glad that I don’t need to introduce people to my work anymore,” she shared.
When asked if she has noticed an increase in job offers, Sanjeeda remarked, “People now know me for *Heeramandi*. I’ve of course done work on TV before, but people forget the past and remember the recent successes. I want to keep working hard rather than waiting for my phone to ring with offers. I now know that they’ll call me for something substantial, and that’s why I rarely decline offers. They recognize what I can contribute to the project.”
Excitedly, she noted that *Heeramandi* became the only Indian show to feature in Google Trends’ list of top-searched movies and shows of 2024. “It made me so happy! Actors seek recognition for their performances, characters, and shows. So, *Heeramandi* being one of the most searched shows on Google Trends really flatters me,” she concluded.
Source
www.news18.com