Manisha Koirala claims to have achieved success, which she characterises as having the “luxury to say no,” throughout the years, with the films 1942: A Love Story and Bombay and Company serving as career-defining moments.
Nearly two decades later, Koirala expressed her optimism that Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s next television series Heeramandi will serve as yet another significant moment in her career.
“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 actor spoke to PTI.
“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.”
“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 further added.
The 52-year-old actor reteams with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, who directed her in Khamoshi: The Musical, for Netflix’s Heeramandi, the director’s first venture into the digital space.
“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 mentioned.
“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 actor averred.
The eagerly awaited period drama tells the tales of courtesans and the people they serve against the turbulent backdrop of the 1940s Indian liberation fight in order to expose the social and cultural context of Heeramandi, a glitzy neighbourhood.
Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sharmin Segal, and Sanjeeda Sheikh are also included in the ensemble.
The actor claimed that Bhansali is one of the select few filmmakers whose female-fronted movies end up becoming huge box office successes. “He is a simple person. He is very much rooted. It is a pleasure to be working with him.”
“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,” she averred.
Koirala, who has appeared in films like Lust Stories, Sanju, and Shehzada during the past five years, stated she is “keen” to get new fans and rekindle her relationships with old devotees.
“I am extremely keen to have the love and affection of newer audiences as well as to keep the memory alive of my fans, who have seen my past work of 20 or 30 years… They are my inspiration to do better work,” she wrapped up.
