What do you do when your happy world suddenly shatters? Sanjeeda Sheikh didn’t let the collapse of her marriage with Aamir Ali deter her. She calmly picked up the pieces, went through the divorce, won over the custody of her daughter Ayra, and continued her growth. She’s not a bitter woman raging about her ex. She doesn’t live in the past, acknowledging that everything she went through was a lesson and she trusts the turns of time. Destiny smiled on her in the form of Fighter, where she played a role meaningful to the narrative and Heeramandi, where her role as Waheeda, Manisha Koirala’s emotionally scarred younger sister was much admired. The role took much from her but she’s glad of the experience. Excerpts from an engaging interview with the actress who understands that tomorrow is another day…

Youv’e had quite a journey with your character, Waheeda, in Heeramandi. How did Sanjay Leela Bhansali influence your approach to portray such a complex role?

I am deeply grateful to Sanjay Leela Bhansali for believing in me to portray a character as intricate as Waheeda. He has this incredible ability to see what actors are capable of, often recognising our strengths before we do. His faith in my abilities has been instrumental in my growth as an actor. Working with him has been a transformative experience. Under his direction, I have learnt to trust my instincts and bring authenticity to my performances. His guidance has helped me tap into emotions and nuances I didn’t realise I could convey. Through this journey, I’ve become more confident and skilled, and I owe a great deal of that to his mentorship.

You mentioned being an instinctive actor. How did this approach shape your performance in Heeramandi?