Shekhar Suman on losing Devdas, finding Heeramandi, and never chasing work

Actor Shekhar Suman recalled turning down the role of Chunni Babu in Devdas in an exclusive interview. He said working with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali in Heeramandi later made up for that regret and introduced him to younger viewers.

In Short

• Shekhar Suman said he regrets missing a role in Devdas
• He praised Bhansali's work and earlier Devdas adaptations
• The actor said Heeramandi brought him to a younger audience

Actor Shekhar Suman has spoken about one of the biggest missed opportunities of his career, saying he still regrets not taking up a role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Devdas. In a conversation with India Today, Suman also reflected on how Heeramandi helped introduce him to a new generation of viewers and said he has never believed in taking up work he does not value.

Suman said the missed role and his later collaboration with Bhansali remain linked in his mind. Alongside that, he spoke about staying active through theatre, his long-running play Ek Mulaqat, and his belief that consistency in a career does not mean saying yes to everything.

The role that slipped away

Recalling the opportunity he could not take up, Suman said, “Devdas. The film was offered to me—the Chunni bhai’s role.” He said he was unable to do the film because of his schedule at the time. “At that time, I was neck-deep in Movers and Shakers, doing it five times a week. Much though I wanted to do it, I could not, and I regret not doing it.”

Suman also spoke warmly about the earlier adaptation of Devdas and the performances in it. Remembering Motilal's performance and the cast, including Dilip Kumar and Suchitra Sen, he said, “That film had always been very special to me,” before adding that if anyone could reinterpret it after Bimal Roy, it was Bhansali. “What a fantastic job he has done,” the actor added.

Reflecting on the missed opportunity, Suman said, “Some you win, some you lose. You should not be too regretful about it. It was probably not meant to be.” He added, “But I got to work with him in Heeramandi, so that compensated me.”

Heeramandi and a new audience

Suman said Heeramandi became a point of rediscovery in his career and brought him to a younger audience. When asked if the show gave his career fresh momentum, he said, “Yes, I guess so. That one role gives you another lease of five years, ten years—and then it goes on.”

Theatre work and staying selective

Even as digital platforms widened his reach, Suman said his work had never stopped. He said he has remained closely involved with theatre and is currently performing in Ek Mulaqat, where he plays Sahir Ludhianvi.

The actor said he is already on the 125th show of the play. “That’s a different world. Audiences are mesmerised—they say they haven’t seen anything like this,” he said. He also referred to having earlier played Saadat Hasan Manto on stage.

Speaking about his approach to work, Suman said, “I have always chosen my work. If I thought something was substandard or mediocre, I would rather sit at home and not do it. But I’ve never been jobless.”

Tracing his journey back to Utsav, he said each year had brought at least a couple of projects, whether in theatre, films or OTT. “I’ve always been working. This year could be very exciting. There are six things on the anvil they will be happening very soon, within a fortnight,” he said.

Suman's remarks brought together a missed film opportunity, a later collaboration with Bhansali in Heeramandi, and his continued work across theatre, films and OTT.

- Ends