Richa Chadha has come forward to defend her Heeramandi co-star Sharmin Segal, who has been heavily trolled for her performance in the web series. Segal, who is the niece of acclaimed filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali, has been at the receiving end of intense criticism since the show’s release.
Ever since Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar premiered, Sharmin Segal has faced significant backlash for her portrayal of Alamzeb. Critics and viewers alike have expressed their dissatisfaction with her performance, leading to widespread trolling on social media. The criticism intensified to the point where Segal had to turn off the comments section on her Instagram handle.
Richa Chadha’s Supportive Stance
Richa Chadha, who also stars in Heeramandi, took to her Instagram Stories to address the negativity surrounding Segal. Chadha emphasized that while it is acceptable to critique a performance, the level of trolling Segal has faced is unwarranted. She urged the audience to offer constructive criticism rather than indulging in visceral hate.
“For the past month, whenever I have been able to keep track and vigilant enough, I have been deleting negative comments about my co-star that have been appearing in my comments. Guys? Offer constructive criticism, but this much visceral hate?” Chadha wrote.
The Impact of Trolling on Mental Health
Chadha also highlighted the potential impact of such trolling on mental health. She asked people to move on from the trend of making someone clickbait and to be more considerate. “I know it’s tempting to jump on a trend, but to make another human being clickbait? I think we can all do better than that, be better than that. Be kind. Please. It can affect someone’s mental health,” she added.
Out-of-Context Interview Clips
Richa Chadha pointed out that many of the criticisms are based on out-of-context interview clips. She noted that some of these clips were from a roast, which were being misinterpreted by the audience. Chadha appealed for a more balanced and fair critique, rather than using these clips to fuel the trolling.
Despite the backlash, Heeramandi has been renewed for a second season. The show features an ensemble cast including Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Prathibha Ranta, Adhyayan Suman, Farida Jalal, and Indresh Malik. As the show continues, it remains to be seen how the narrative and performances will evolve and whether Segal’s role will garner a more favorable reception.