How Cillian Murphy served inspiration for Manisha Koirala’s Mallikajaan in Heeramandi?
Bollywood actress Manisha Koirala has recently unveiled the clandestine inspiration behind her stunning portrayal of Mallikajaan, the chief courtesan of Heeramandi, in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s acclaimed web series “Heeramandi.”
In an exclusive interview with a leading Indian publication, Manisha Koirala divulged that her rendition of the cunning, venomous, and enigmatic character of Mallikajaan in Heeramandi drew substantial influence from none other than the renowned Irish actor Cillian Murphy, famed for his role in the hit series “Peaky Blinders.”
Koirala, who has been garnering widespread acclaim for her portrayal of Mallikajaan, shared insights into the meticulous process of crafting her character.
Drawing parallels between Mallikajaan’s intricacies and Murphy’s portrayal of the iconic Thomas Shelby in “Peaky Blinders,” Koirala shed light on the subtle nuances and demeanor she sought to emulate in her performance.
Speaking about her character, the ‘Dil Se’ actor said, “To bring in the realism, you can’t put the character in the box. So I had to figure out and navigate it. I think even after doing a few scenes, I was still in the process of navigating.”
Koirala recalled asking one of Bhansali’s assistants, for any existing reference for her character, when she was told, “‘Manisha, watch Peaky Blinders’.”
“So I watched Peaky Blinders and picked a few things, especially the hero’s cold gaze. I said if I can get that it would be fabulous because personally, I have never come across anyone like Mallikajaan,” she added.
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Notably, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s much-awaited digital debut ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’, explores the ‘stories of courtesans’ living in the red light district of Lahore, during the pre-independent India.
The eight-episodic web series, starring Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sanjeeda Sheikh and Sharmin Segal in the main roles, along with Farida Jalal, Fardeen Khan, Shekhar and Adhyayan Suman, and Taha Shah, premiered on the streaming giant Netflix last week.
