Heeramandi' actress Manisha Koirala on working with Bollywood's three Khans: Shah Rukh Khan is rooted, Salman Khan has a big heart and 'hats off' to Aamir Khan

Heeramandi's actress Manisha Koirala has worked with Bollywood's three Khans.

Manisha Koirala has been in the spotlight since her character from the Netflix series 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar' was revealed. In this series, set in British-ruled India, she portrays Mallika Jaan, a 'scheming' character who presides over a prestigious house of courtesans. Ahead of the series launch, Manisha shared insights into her life and experiences with Bollywood's prominent Khans — Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan — in an interview with Zoom.

Discussing Shah Rukh Khan, with whom she has worked in films like 'Dil Se' and 'Guddu', Koirala remarked, “I feel Shah Rukh Khan is — and probably will always be—the biggest star. He is also quite wise. What I appreciated about him is his grounded nature; he would sit on the floor and drink tea, despite his immense fame. I admire people who stay grounded despite their success.”

She expressed her admiration for Aamir Khan, noting his transformative acting skills over the past decade and a half. “Aamir Khan is an exceptional actor and the way he has elevated his craft in recent years is commendable. Hats off to him. He immerses himself into his roles, striving to embody the character rather than just being Aamir Khan. This quality reminds me of Kamal Haasan, who is distinct in every role he plays,” she stated, adding: “As an actor, it's my desire to have similar opportunities where I can immerse myself fully into varied roles, making the character visible and not Manisha Koirala.”

Speaking about Salman Khan, with whom she co-starred in 'Sangdil Sanam', Koirala commented, “I know Salman Khan is a kind-hearted man. He is involved in extensive charity work, particularly helping cancer patients — a cause close to my heart as a cancer survivor. He doesn’t often discuss his charitable activities publicly.”

She continued, “He's also a major star. His natural style is popular with the masses. My mother was particularly fond of him. He has a spontaneity and a lack of pretense that’s quite appealing.”

Previously, in an interview with Radio City, Koirala praised all three Khans, “All the three Khans are great actors and superstars... I loved and enjoyed working with them. They are good people.”

Regarding her latest project, 'Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar', set to release on May 1, she shared her enthusiasm, “I waited 28 years for Sanjay to call me, and working with him has been a pleasure. It’s an honour to work with such a genius. We've put a lot of hard work and love into making 'Heeramandi', and we hope everyone will love it.” The period drama boasts an impressive cast, including Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh, and Sharmin Segal.