Manisha Koirala, a prominent Bollywood actor, defines success as the ability to say no, which she has achieved with her roles in films such as “1942: A Love Story,” “Bombay,” and “Company.” Koirala believes that these films have been turning points in her career, and she is hopeful that Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s upcoming series, “Heeramandi,” will be another milestone for her after almost two decades. In an interview with PTI, Koirala stated that success to her means having the freedom to do what she wants to do and when she wants to do it. She believes that she has achieved this luxury as an actor and credits her undying love for the profession for keeping her going.
When Koirala started her career in the 1990s, success meant having a busy schedule. “I was told if the actors are busy for the next three years, they are happening and rocking actors, so my focus was that,” she said. After 32 years in the showbiz, her focus has changed. She now prefers to have more free time to pursue her interests, such as traveling, gardening, trekking, writing a book, binge-watching, and spending time with family.
Koirala is reuniting with her “Khamoshi: The Musical” director Bhansali for Netflix’s “Heeramandi,” which explores the cultural reality of a dazzling district through the stories of courtesans and their patrons set against the backdrop of the Indian freedom struggle of the 1940s. The ensemble cast also includes Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sharmin Segal, and Sanjeeda Sheikh.
Koirala is thrilled to work with Bhansali again after over 25 years and calls him a maestro. She believes that he is one of the few directors whose women-fronted stories emerge as major box office hits. In a male-dominated society, films are also made in the same way, and she has come to terms with it. She believes that within the limited scope, everyone tries to do their best, and Sanjay is one of those few filmmakers whose films have females as the main protagonists and are mega-successes at the box office.
Koirala is keen to develop a new fan base and reconnect with her admirers. In the last five years, she has starred in films such as “Lust Stories,” “Sanju,” and “Shehzada.” She believes that her fans who have seen her past work of 20 or 30 years are her inspiration to do better work.
In conclusion, Koirala’s definition of success has evolved over the years, and she now values having the luxury to say no and pursue her interests. She is hopeful that “Heeramandi” will be another milestone in her career and is excited to work with Bhansali again. Koirala also wants to develop a new fan base and continue to inspire her fans with her work.
