Cinema VinesSanjeeda Shaikh, known for her intense roles in dramas like Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Heeramandi, recently shared her experience of stepping into comedy with the action‑comedy hit Dhamaal 4. The film, a chaotic revival of Indra Kumar’s long‑running franchise, reunited familiar faces Ajay Devgn, Riteish Deshmukh, Arshad Warsi and Jaaved Jaaferi while bringing fresh talent such as Shaikh to the screen.
Shaikh revealed that the opportunity came when director Indra Kumar, after watching Heeramandi, approached her with the question, “You are a very serious actress.” She convinced him she could bring humor to the role, laughing like a man and proving her comedic chops. “I sat with him, and I think he heard me laughing—and I laugh like a man—so he said, ‘Okay, this is fine.’ And my casting was done,” she recalled.
Despite being cast for comedy, Shaikh found herself performing action sequences alongside veteran action stars. She joked that the crew had “fooled” her into doing action while Ajay Devgn handled the comedy bits. “I was actually fooled; I was told I had to do comedy, but they made me do action,” she laughed, noting that the set became a running joke about her performing stunts while Devgn stayed on the comedy side.
Working with seasoned comic actors required Shaikh to “up her game” so she wouldn’t stand out. She explained that sharing the screen with Ajay, Arshad and Riteish meant her character had to fit seamlessly into the established franchise. “My focus was on ensuring my character would not be lost, because this is an established franchise with beloved characters. I should not look out of place,” she said.
Released to largely negative reviews, Dhamaal 4 still resonated with audiences, grossing over ₹200 crore worldwide and cementing its status as a box‑office success. Shaikh’s debut in action comedy has added a new dimension to her already diverse career, proving her versatility beyond serious drama.
