Did you know Aditya Pancholi rejected Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s offer to work in Heeramandi? Here’s why

Did you know Aditya Pancholi rejected Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s offer to work in Heeramandi? Here's why

As an avid admirer of Bollywood’s rich tapestry, I find the story of Aditya Pancholi‘s career choices deeply intriguing. His decision to step away from character roles, influenced by an incident involving the legendary Shammi Kapoor, is a poignant reminder of the power dynamics that exist within our industry.


In the movie Bajirao Mastani, starring Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone, Aditya Pancholi’s portrayal of Shripad Rao was a standout moment. Interestingly, his wife, Zarina Wahab, has shared that Sanjay Leela Bhansali proposed another role for him in the well-known Netflix series Heeramandi, but he declined due to his commitment not to take on additional character roles later in his career.

During a heartfelt chat with Lehren Retro, Zarina Wahab reminisced about an old event involving the esteemed actor Shammi Kapoor which significantly affected Aditya Pancholi in the past, causing him to shy away from taking on character roles.

For those not familiar, Shammi Kapoor was a highly respected actor in Bollywood during the 1960s, known for his successful films and hailing from the distinguished Kapoor family within the Bollywood industry. One day, while Aditya was filming with him at a bungalow in Juhu, he observed that Shammi Kapoor was being given less favorable treatment compared to the main actors.

Regardless of their star status, Kapoor was found sitting in a garden having his makeup applied under an umbrella, while Pancholi was provided with an air-conditioned room. This unexpected scenario left the Jai Ho actor somewhat astonished and he promptly summoned Shammi to his private quarters, who politely refuted the allegations.

After transitioning from a lead actor to a character artist, the experience made a profound impact on Aditya Pancholi, causing him to choose retirement from acting.

Wahab pointed out that her spouse recognized the industry’s potential unfairness. He came to understand that those who once appreciated you as an actor might later look down on you as a character artist. Similarly, she concurred and felt it was unjust but acknowledged that this is often how the movie business operates.

Upon Sanjay Leela Bhansali offering me a role in Heeramandi, I humbly declined and expressed, “Sir, please understand, I’ve made the decision to step away from acting.

Sanjay Leela Bhansali made his OTT premiere with the film Heeramandi, which was launched on Netflix on May 1, 2024. The notable cast members included Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Fardeen Khan, Sharmin Sehgal, Richa Chadha, and several others in pivotal roles.

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2024-11-28 16:07