Sanjay Leela Bhansali once rejected Heeramandi actor Fardeen Khan saying he doesn’t see the passion

Fardeen Khan has now made his comeback into acting with Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi but the actor got rejected back when he had approached the filmmaker. He spoke about the same and how the series actually happened. During their first meet, SLB refused to work with Fardeen, stating the actor lacks passion. Now that Fardeen and SLB have worked together, the actor finally reveals his reaction, then and now.

Fardeen unaware about him being considered for Black

Fardeen was supposed to be a part of Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Black, as revealed by the director in an interview. It was for a small role, which eventually did not work out. However, the actor was unaware of such news.

Fardeen rejected by SLB, and his reaction to it

He further spoke to Pinkvilla about trying to work with the filmmaker back in early 2000s. Of course, Fardeen also met Sanjay for the role in Heeramandi. Back in the 2000s, SLB sat Fardeen down and said that they cannot work together because he doesn’t see the fire in the actor’s eyes. “At that time, of course, it felt brutal and I told him this time that even though it was brutal, it was probably exactly what I wanted, rather needed, to hear,” Fardeen recalled about his meeting with SLB again. The actor said that he thanked the filmmaker for the very thing. He further said he’s extremely grateful to just be able to work with a master craftsman like Sanjay Leela Bhansali. “It’s been a wonderful learning experience and it enriched me on many levels,” he added.

Fardeen grateful for SLB

Stating that people don’t get to often work with those who are the master of the craft, he mentioned that SLB sets the bar very high even for himself. “That in itself is a privilege and a huge challenge,” he says, adding that he is a man with a grand vision who makes films on a grand scale. “He pushes your limits, so it takes a while to align with his process, but once you do, you understand his vision,” Fardeen said, adding that even though he demands a lot, the filmmaker is very kind and generous with the actors he works with. He also praised the filmmaker’s attention to detail and stated how you understand his passion and it is so infectious that you tend to carry it with you. Thus, he called the project a very special experience.

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