Taha Shah Badussha of Heeramandi fame has recently become one of the Internet’s newest trendsetters and is receiving much love and praise for his role as Tajdar in Heeramandi directed by Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
Taha was widely recognized for his acting talent after appearing in projects like Gippi and Barkhaa. But according to Taha, Heeramandi proved the most challenging and rewarding of them all.
The Versatile Talent of Taha Shah Badussha
Taha Shah Badussha may be new to Bollywood, but he has made quite an impression with his acting skills and Greek-god physique. This young actor has won over many fans with his work in various OTT projects and the web series Bekaaboo 2; moreover, his Hollywood debut in Draupadi Unleashed also left an impactful mark.
Taha has delighted audiences in Bollywood films like Luv Ka The End, Gippi and Ranchi Diaries; now he is making waves with his powerful performance in Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar. Playing Tajdar Baloch- a character known for being both strong and romantic- this project will see Taha share screen space alongside Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari Sharmin Segal Richa Chadha Farida Jalal Sanjeeda Sheikh and Shekhar Suman- all brilliant actors!
An actor known for his toned physique has been working hard to maintain it. He practices martial arts, calisthenics and gymnastics training as well as dance lessons and cardio workouts, taking inspiration from Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan. Burpees are his go-to exercise when challenging core muscles; consistency is the key to success he believes. “To reach your goals successfully you must put forth effort every day – whether that is during workouts or auditions”
From Romance to Action
Taha Shah Badussha has made waves with his cinematic debut in Bollywood, his popular web series in America and his eminent role as an Indian household name in India. But it is his charitable work which stands out most, both him and wife Pratibha using social media platforms such as Instagram to share their efforts and motivate others.
The two have made it their mission to use their fame and wealth for good by supporting education initiatives for underprivileged children through various initiatives. Their formidable presence in the industry gives them even more of a firm footing to stand on.
Taha, known for his roles on shows such as ‘Luv Ka The End’, ‘Gippi’, ‘Ranchi Diaries’ and ‘Baar Baar Dekho’ recently visited Mahim Dargah to seek divine blessings for his upcoming project ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar’. Wearing black kurta-pyjama combination, Taha was seen carrying chadar as he entered this sacred shrine.
Taha has received much acclaim for his portrayal of Tajdar Baloch in Heeramandi. The play follows Tajdar Baloch as he falls for Alamzeb, a courtesan. Taha has even been compared to Sushant Singh Rajput for how well he plays his character but Taha seems unfazed.
Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar
Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar is an extravagant Netflix series about courtesans living in Lahore’s red-light district Heeramandi. The series both celebrates and laments this house of women yearning for dignity in an age of disintegrating royal power; along with featuring intimate moments of love, jealousy and deceit as well as series of fights, processions and cases of custodial torture.
Heeramandi features outstanding performances from its ensemble cast of Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Sheikh and Sharmin Segal Mehta; however, its stunning beauty begins to dissipate as its story loses steam; unfortunately talented actors are saddled with dialogue that wouldn’t pass an introductory-level screenwriting class.
Heeramandi is an ambitious, sprawling series that boasts stunning visuals and an engaging melodramatic narrative, but can become bogged down with excessive detail or repetitive scenes; furthermore, Heeramandi may present an inaccurate depiction of tawaif life despite their best intentions.
Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar still manages to justify another season. From its sensual cinematography and extravagant costumes, to its captivating music that pulls viewers into Heeramandi’s world and music that immerses them, viewers are pulled into this imaginative female-driven recreation of history. Although at times slow moving, Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar remains worth watching due to its production design and charismatic star power.
Draupadi Unleashed
Draupadi Unleashed, written and co-directed by Nisha Sabharwal (who also provides voiceover narration), follows three generations of Indian women living within an upper-crust family as they navigate a male-dominated society. While there are moments of hopefulness throughout this high-toned soap opera, its overall message remains depressing in its view of female power versus darkness and survival strategies for many female characters.
Indira, sixteen years old at the start of this film set in 1930s India, finds herself torn between finding true love and continuing her arranged marriage with Amar. Complicating matters further is when she reconnects with Gautam who was last in her life when they were two. Meanwhile relatives plot against her while an unknown guru offers other advice.
Salena Qureshi shines as Indira, while Melanie Chandra (Code Black), Anna George (God Friended Me) and Azita Ghanizada (The Friend with Casey Affleck) bring life and dimension to what might otherwise have been flat character types. Unfortunately, due to a drab script with little style or flair present throughout this movie – with occasional upbeat moments being marred by severe logic gaps or threads suddenly being dropped – never lives up to its potential. There are uplifting moments thrown in here and there; unfortunately though.
