Heeramandi: What is the story behind Sanjeeda Shaikh aka Waheeda's facial scar?

Sanjeeda Shaikh Pic/Instagram

Actress Sanjeeda Shaikh, who dominated the small screen for several years captivated the audience with her role as Waheeda in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's web series 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar'. In the show, Sanjeeda is depicted as a woman of unparalleled beauty and possessing an angelic voice. However, her life takes a tragic turn when she experiences an incident that leaves her scarred for life. With her exquisite appearance, graceful dance movements, and mastery of Urdu, Sanjeeda seamlessly fits into the magnum opus world of 'Heeramandi'.

So what exactly happened to her beautiful face that got scarred for life? In the series, a young Waheeda is seen confronting her elder sister Mallikajaan played by Abha Ranta, and a young Zulfikar essayed by Adhyayan Suman. After Rehana, their elder sister, played by Sonakshi is killed by Mallika and Zulfikar but staged as suicide, Waheeda asks Mallika to sign the papers for Khwabgah, a property facing Shahi Mahal, which was left by Rehana as a gift to her.

When Waheeda insists despite Mallika warning her it is a judicial matter, Zulfikar takes the pen she brought to sign and ruptures her face leaving a part of it bleeding and scarred for life. Waheeda is seen facing constant humiliation and heartbreaks for the same.

In a conversation with ANI, Sanjeeda spoke about the women-empowering narratives on OTT platforms, highlighting the growing acceptance of such content among audiences. She said, "These days, women-empowering concepts are coming up on the OTT and are being accepted by the audience."

Speaking about the filming of her latest project, the actress expressed joy at the significant presence of women on sets. "On our sets also, there were almost 80 percent women, including assistant directors, writers, and creators. It feels beautiful," she said.

Set against the backdrop of the Indian freedom struggle of the 1940s, 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' promises to be an epic saga of love, power, revenge, and freedom. Through the stories of courtesans and their patrons, the series delves deep into the cultural reality of Heeramandi.

'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' premiered on Netflix on May 1, 2024. The series also stars Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, and Sharmin Segal in pivotal roles.

(With inputs from ANI)