Manisha Koirala, in a recent chat, spoke about making her digital debut with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming series, Heeramandi.
Manisha Koirala, known for films like 1942: A Love Story, Bombay and Company, is all set to foray into OTT space with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming series, Heeramandi which also stars Aditi Rao Hydari, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh and Sharmin Segal.
In a recent chat with PTI, the ‘Akele Hum Akele Tum’ actress said that she is hopeful that Heeramandi emerges as another turning point in her career spanning 32 years.
Manisha shared, “What I call success is the freedom to do what I want to do and at what time. I feel I am pretty successful today because I have the luxury to say no… The undying love for this profession keeps me going. I love the field of acting and cinema.”
The actress said that the idea of being successful in the 90s was having a busy schedule. Explaining the same, she elaborated, “Earlier when I started my career it was about filling your date diary. I was told if the actors are busy for the next three years, they are happening and rocking actors, so my focus was that.”
Koirala said that she would rather do things that interest her than take up mediocre projects.
“I would rather have a lot of free time, where I can travel, do gardening, trekking, write a book, binge watch, spend time with family… Do things that interest me rather than do mediocre projects,” she was quoted as saying by the publication.
Speaking about Heeramandi, she continued, “The turning points for me have been Saudagar, 1942: A Love Story, Bombay and after a long gap I did Company. Now, I feel Heeramandi could be my turning point. I’m keeping my fingers crossed.
She also opened up on reuniting with her ‘Khamoshi’ director Sanjay Leela Bhansali after over 25 years.
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Manisha said, “Sanjay is somebody with whom I worked in Khamoshi and there was a long gap but we stayed in touch. We have a deep friendship bond, which is not limited to work. I have a deep-rooted respect for him because he is one filmmaker, who has improved with every film and it is because of his work ethics, which nobody can match.”
The actress said that she was thrilled when the Gangubai Kathiawadi director offered her Heeramandi and added, “He is a simple person. He is very much rooted. It is a pleasure to be working with him.”
Koirala said that Bhansali is one of those filmmakers whose women-front stories always work wonders at the box office.
“It is a male-dominated society and films are also made like that. One has come to make peace with it. Within the limited scope we all try to do our best. Being a female actor, we have always somehow been ok with having a second place to the male actors. It is a male dominated industry… And there are very few filmmakers like Sanjay, in whose films, females are the main protagonists and they are mega successes at the box office,” the news agency quoted her as saying.
Manisha who was recently seen in Kartik Aaryan-Kriti Sanon starrer Shehzaada, said that she is keen to develop a new fan base and reconnect with her admirers. She said that they are her inspiration to do better work.
