Sonakshi Sinha: 'Nobody took me seriously' before Heeramandi

Sonakshi Sinha, who recently starred as Fareedan in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's debut web series Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar, shared in an interview that she was not taken seriously as an actor before this role. Speaking to Bollywood Bubble, she expressed gratitude to Bhansali for visualizing her in a complex role and casting her in the series. "I am so glad that somebody visualised me, Sanjay sir saw me in a role like that. I am truly grateful to him," Sonakshi said. She added that playing such a challenging character was a refreshing change from the stereotypical roles she had been offered, stating, "Till when will you play the girl-next-door, sweet girlfriend, sweet wife?"

In Heeramandi, which has been streaming on Netflix since May 1, Sonakshi portrays the character Fareedan against the backdrop of India's struggle for independence in the 1940s. The series explores the lives of courtesans and their patrons, delving into the cultural dynamics of Heera Mandi. The cast includes Manisha Koirala, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sharmin Sehgal, Sanjeeda Sheikh, and Fardeen Khan, among others. Sonakshi was also recently seen in the film Kakuda with Riteish Deshmukh and Saqib Saleem, which aired on ZEE5 on July 12.