'We have got it easier but what we do later is up to us'

'We have got it easier but what we do later is up to us'

They both come from filmy families and are aware of the responsibilities that they carry on their shoulders. Having said that, Sharmin Segal and Meezaan Jaaferi, who are making their acting debut with Mangesh Hadawale’s Malaal, aren’t too bothered about the comparisons and expectations post the film’s release. In fact, they want to focus on their craft and let the audience decide whether they have the talent. 

Sharmin is filmmaker and producer Sanjay Leela Bhasali’s niece (her mother Bela Segal is a reputed editor and has directed Shirin Farhad Ki Toh Nikal Padi) and Meezaan is actor Jaaved Jaaferi’s son. 

During their exclusive interaction with Sakal Times, Sharmin says that as far as acting is concerned, there is no one to compare her with. Nevertheless, people are going point out that she got the project easily because it’s been produced by her maternal uncle. “And it’s true. We did get the opportunity easily” says the bubbly actress. “But I am not a typical star kid. Having said that, the responsibility also falls on my shoulders and it motivates me to work harder. Sometimes, you don’t have the perspective to look at your own work. I don’t even know if I am living up to the expectations until July 5, when we will find out the amount of money the film makes or what the critics have to say. I want people to see my work and not focus on the fact that I am Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s niece,” she adds. 

Meezaan says, “I agree with Sharmin. Maybe we have got it easier, but what we do later is up to us. The audience holds the grail and they will decide if they like us or not.”   

The long preparation
The newbie actors have spent three years on Malaal, with their director working with them on every aspect of their character for two years. “My prep was understanding what Mangesh sir wanted. There is no specific cultural background defining this girl, other than the fact that she is not from Mumbai, whereas the boy represents the Marathi culture,” says Sharmin. 

Meezaan says that because Mangesh had written the characters, no one knew them like the way he did. “They were his babies, so naturally we were following what he wanted. Personally, I had to invest a lot of time on this character because he is so different from me and likewise for Sharmin. We both were familiar with the Marathi culture but we weren’t aware about it in such detail,” he points out.

To this Sharmin adds, “Mangesh sir did not give us the script. He just made us understand where the characters come from. He used to take us to Dadar and Mahim stations and different places in the city to explore the culture and practises. He gave us a lot of back stories to our characters. We would sit every day for two hours and do scenes. It was a gift from Mangesh sir to give us so much time. Most of the times, directors won’t spend so much time on workshops. He was like a father on the set.”  

Explaining how they shot, Meezaan, who played Shiva, says, “While Astha (played by Sharmin) was talking to her parents, the director would give them an idea about what Shiva would be doing. You won’t know it as an audience. But it helped maintain the link. The story is based in the chawls in Mumbai and both of us had to be seen by those people as one of them. We had to become them.” 

Working under SLB and Mangesh Hadawale 
Before making their debut with the Bhansali productions, the young actors have worked with the filmmaker as his assistant directors. Sharmin assisted him during the making of Bajirao Mastani while Meezaan was a part of Padmavaat. Meezaan says, “When I was assisting him, Sanjay Sir made me rehearse the scenes and then on the monitor he would point out where I went right and wrong and how differently I could do the scene. It was a one-on-one acting school.”  

Talking about the working styles of Mangesh and Sanjay, Sharmin says, “Mangesh sir portrays emotions in a simple manner whereas Sanjay sir brings multiple nuances in one scene on a grand scale. The nuances might get lost but he still brings them out. To connect both their perspectives in one place was a task and that’s what got interested me in Malaal in the first place. I would wonder, ‘how are the two going to make a film together at the end of the day’. Every film that comes out of the production house has its elements because it’s not just the vision of the director but also the production house’s. It also envisions the film at some level,” says Sharmin. 

For Meezaan it was the best of both the worlds. “Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s world is so much different from Mangesh Hadawale’s. We were fortunate to be a part of two schools of filmmaking,” he says. Sharmin adds, “It was also hard for us as first-time actors to live up to the expectations of Sanjay Leela Bhansali and then try to fulfill our director’s vision.”

Enjoyed reading The Bridge Chronicle?
Your support motivates us to do better. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter to stay updated with the latest stories.
You can also read on the go with our Android and iOS mobile app.

Related Stories

No stories found.
logo
The Bridge Chronicle
www.thebridgechronicle.com