Manisha Koirala Reveals that Rekha was Offered Heeramandi`s Mallikajaan Role 20 Years Ago

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MAY 06,2024

Heeramandi came out on Netflix on May 1, and it has been making the headlines ever since. Amid mixed reviews for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's OTT debut, one thing is common: Manisha Koirala's work and acting skills are praised by everyone. Her character brings life to the series, and she's the most lauded actress in Heeramandi. In a recent interview, the Bombay actress shared how Rekha was originally offered the role of Mallikajaan about 20 years ago.

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Manisha Koirala reveals that Rekha was the first choice for Mallikajaan

The interviewer asked Manisha about Rekha being offered the role of Heeramandi in the past. The actress responded, 'I believe so. She was telling me that 18 to 20 years ago, she was offered this role.'

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The Roja actress then shared that Rekha and she had a small interaction after the Heeramandi screening, which brought Manisha Koirala to tears. She shared, 'I love her a lot (Rekha). She called me up the next day after watching Heeramandi. She said, 'Bachcha, I was praying if I couldn't do the role, you get to do it. My prayers have come true. You have done it marvellously you have gone through so much in life. You have added soul to the role.' To get a blessing and praise from an artist of her calibre is something else. I had tears in my eyes, and I told her, 'You are making me cry.' She loves me a lot.'

'I got teary-eyed, and I told her that you are making me cry,' Manisha added. She went on to compliment Rekha for her mesmerising beauty and talent. She said, 'Rekha Ji is a goddess. I love her. I had the opportunity of knowing her. She is the most graceful and poetic. What an artist she is. Her voice, dance, style, aestheticsmdashyou name it. She is a very beautiful person. Ashok Mehta ji (cinematographer) would say about her, 'No actor can be compared to Rekha.''

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A few days ago, at the LA premiere of Heeramandi, Sanjay Leela Bhansali revealed that he'd considered Rekha for the primary role since its inception. He said, 'This was 18 years ago at one point it was Rekha ji, Kareena, and Rani Mukerji,' Bhansali revealed. 'Then it changed into another cast. It was Mahira Khan, the Pakistani actress, at one point, with Imran Abbas and Fawad Khan. But that changed,' he added.