Jason Shah has garnered attention with his intense portrayal of Cartwright, a menacing British officer, in Heeramandi. Directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the eight-episode period drama series centres on the heated rivalry between Mallikajaan (Manisha Koirala, the ‘huzoor’ of Heera Mandi, and Fareedan (Sonakshi Sinha), her late sister’s daughter.
In an exclusive interview with The Daily Guardian, Jason said that he didn’t go out of his way to prepare for the role as he wanted his performance to be ‘subtle’. He added that he didn’t want the character to have ‘washboard abs’. Additionally, he spoke about working with ‘Sona’ and the Dil Se star.
What made you give the nod to Heeramandi?
The title itself sounded interesting. Then there was an opportunity to work with such a great director. The prospect of working opposite so many actresses was exciting as it would give me the chance to be exposed to Bollywood in a different way. I have so far worked opposite the men.
How did you prepare for your role in the series?
I didn’t do much preparation for the role. I simply wanted to keep the role as subtle as possible. Most of the people I have worked with so far wanted a very one-track mind and over-the-top British individual. This time, I wanted to do it subtly as anger isn’t always expressed through loud actions.
Did you follow a fitness or diet regime to get the right look for Heeramandi?
I didn’t want to have that cliched washboard six-pack abs look. I wanted it to feel more like a British officer. I even had a mutton burger on set so that I felt a bit not regular in terms of my physique. I don’t think officers back then had six-pack abs.
How was the experience of working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali?
I have worked with a lot of directors in my career. However, my interactions with Sanjay sir were few and far between That said, based on the few interactions we did have, I feel he is a perfectionist.
How are Sonakshi Sinha and Manisha Koirala as co-stars?
Sonakshi is a hard-working girl. I was also impressed by Manisha Koirala’s dedication. I think she brought an extreme intensity to the show. I learnt a lot from these actresses.
Lastly, how do you deal with negative feedback?
I do not see anything as negative in this regard. If someone tells you that they didn’t like your work and you can receive it with an open heart, it can mature you as an actor. I always ask for honest feedback as it can help you grow. However, if you have a bunch of man-pleasers around you then you are not ready to grow.