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Heeramandi fame Shekhar Suman aka Nawab Zulfikar talks about nepotism in Bollywood: 'There is favoritism, there's groupism'
Upon its release, on 1st May 2024, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar has oozed and whacked the Indian period drama fanatics, especially the ones who long for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's breathtaking grandeur finesse. The whopping drama series has roped off some of the most ethereal characters portrayed by Indian cinema, and been able to impress audiences like absolutely none, the actresses. Apart from being a female starrer series, it's huge ensemble of casts also included some significant male characters that supported the web show throughout. Shekhar Suman was among the many who have played an integral role as Nawab Zulfikar, Mallikajaan's muse.
Actor Shekhar Suman has made his comeback in television through the SLB series, Heeramandi, and we all are drolled with his role. Recently, during an interview with a renowned media forum, the star revealed numerous aspects of Bollywood, its dark parts to be precise! SLB's Nawab Zulfikar openly talked about nepotism and favoritism in Bollywood, which has sabotaged his and his son Adhyayan's career.
Speaking about Bolywood's powerful people, people who have tried to destroy his career earlier have said, "In any profession, there are about four or five leaders who lead the show. They could be anyone. They're faceless, they're nameless but they're there. And I cannot vindicate that with so much authority because I need proof of that. But I heard people and horse's mouth and people who are close to them." There were even instances when people would start surfacing rumors that he is "hot-tempered, he's indiscipline. He's rude and difficult to manage. They don't have the time to check so they sort of blacklist you. That happened to me and Aditya," he continued.
Proceeding further with his revelation, he compared the nepotism in Bollywood with the government offices. As per the Heeramandi star, "It's an open field but yes, there's favoritism. There is groupism. There is a cliquey. In that, no one is allowed to enter. When they start casting for a film, they will only cast those people from the cliquey. And there by you lose the opportunity to work because it's all fortified."
Led by all women, the Netflix television series is set in pre-independent India and revolves around the life of the courtesans when they were treated as equals as queens. Starring Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Shanjeeda Sheikh, and Sharmin Sehgal, it is an intense historical drama that takes the audiences around the themes of 'love, power and freedom'.
- PTC PUNJABI
