‘ Heeramandi ’ fame Sharmin Segal , in an exclusive interview with ETimes, opened up about her incredible journey from being an Assistant Director (AD) for Sanjay Leela Bhansali to making her acting debut in ‘Malaal.’ With candid reflections and heartfelt gratitude, Sharmin shared how her early experiences on film sets, particularly with Priyanka Chopra , shaped her career. "I basically finished school and then two weeks later I decided that I wanted to work in films," Sharmin began, recounting her initial steps into the industry.
"But I needed to understand films because, before that, I had no understanding of filmmaking. I used to watch movies but didn't understand anything about it." Determined to learn, she approached Sanjay Leela Bhansali for an opportunity to assist him on a film.
At that time, Bhansali was shooting ‘Ram Leela,’ but Sharmin felt that the project was too significant for her first venture into the industry. "So, I was like, okay, you're producing ' Mary Kom ,' is it okay if I start assisting over there? So, I can at least understand the world of filmmaking," she shared. Her time on the set of ‘Mary Kom’ proved to be invaluable, largely due to the influence of Priyanka Chopra.
"Priyanka Chopra was one of my biggest inspirations and till today, the things that she has taught me on the sets of ‘Mary Kom’ I still keep with me," Sharmin shared. She learned crucial aspects of the industry, from fittings and makeup to carrying oneself with po.
