Mark Bennington On Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Strictness During Heeramandi Shoot: 'If You Are Not...' | Exclusive

Mark Bennington starred as British officer Samuel in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s ‘Heeramandi: The Diamond Bazaar.’ The actor, who has appeared in films and series such as ‘Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran,’ ‘Swatantra Veer Savarkar,’ ‘Devil,’ ‘Kesari,’ ‘Saas, Bahu Aur Flamingo,’ ‘Bombay Begums,’ and ‘Angrezi Medium,’ among others, has carved a special place in the minds and hearts of the Indian audience through his diverse portrayals. As he awaits his next project, ‘Indian 2’ with Kamal Haasan, Mark Bennington exclusively spoke to News18 Showsha, sharing his experience working with Sanjay Leela Bhansali in ‘Heeramandi,’ his role in ‘Swatantra Veer Savarkar,’ and more.

Here are the excerpts:

What’s the story of bagging a role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s production? How did you become a part of Heeramandi?

The casting director, who I’ve known for a long time and who has cast me in several projects before, reached out to me. A couple of years ago, I ran into her at a restaurant, and she mentioned that there was an interesting project coming up. A few months later, I was contacted to read for it. When I first read for the role, things were quite different, as often happens with creative projects. The character, while ultimately the same role, had different storylines connected to him initially. Nonetheless, it was a very enticing opportunity, especially because it included working with one of the best directors in the business. I had expressed my desire to work with this director years ago, and it felt like a dream come true when this opportunity came along. The entire experience turned out to be fantastic.

You’ve mastered the art of emulating accents. Even in Heeramandi, your British accent is quite aristocratic. Not only that, I noticed your way of walking and your demeanor were just perfect. So walk me through the preparation for this character?

When it came to deciding on the look for my character, the team had a clear vision for the series as a whole. During the look test, they presented me with several options for mustaches. I felt that the little Clark Gable-looking mustache was perfect. It really fit the character well, and I was very happy they chose that one. I’m someone who gets into character through physical traits like tattoos, clothing, walk, and accent. So, once we settled on the mustache, hairstyle, and wardrobe, everything started to come together. The walk and demeanor of the character developed organically as we began shooting. We didn’t have any rehearsals, which is common in such large-scale productions. It all happened on set, and there was an intuitive process that brought the character to life. The set itself was massive, almost like Universal Studios. We filmed at Film City, where they built an entire mini-city complete with buildings and a central fountain. It felt like walking through a different world, especially during night shoots, surrounded by people and this vibrant, yet-to-be-filmed cityscape. Because the production was so large, we often received our scripts and lines on the day of shooting, and these could change frequently. There wasn’t a lot of time for preparation in the traditional sense. We had to adapt quickly to new lines and directions, as the script was constantly being fine-tuned. Despite this, or perhaps because of it, the character naturally evolved as filming progressed.

We’ve all heard the stories how Sanjay Leela Bhansali aims for perfection. That he is a hard task master on the sets. So what are your thoughts on that? And from your own experience, how was it like working with him and what sort of learnings did you derive?

I’ve had the experience of working with people, even outside of the States, who have a reputation for being short-tempered. Often, these individuals are geniuses who are driven by a desire for perfection—not just for themselves, but for everyone on their team, including the cast and crew. Working with him was actually a great experience for me. Although I had a small role and he is a major director, we had a very pleasant and respectful rapport. Our interactions, though limited, were gracious and mutually understanding. When I did see him lose his temper, it seemed justified. In such a massive production, any lapse in competence or failure to meet his high standards was understandably frustrating. He demands and expects perfection, which motivates everyone to give their best. Ultimately, everyone on set wants to deliver their utmost because they recognize that his pursuit of excellence pushes the entire project toward success.

Heeramandi has received mixed reviews. With every good review, people have also expressed their harsh criticism on certain aspects of the show. Do you feel such criticism hold any merit or whether there is a malintent behind it?

People are always going to criticize; you can’t please everyone all the time. However, fans of Bin Sali’s movies are going to love this one. It features everything he’s best at—all the allure and uniqueness. Sure, there have been criticisms about storylines or dialogues, and everyone is entitled to their opinion. But for those who appreciate something spectacular, this film delivers. I was particularly impressed by the actresses. While all the actors did a fantastic job, actresses like Sonakshi Sinha and Manisha Koirala truly shined. Let’s be honest, it’s really their show—they were incredible.

Let’s talk about the female actors of this show, which actress according to you stood out from the rest? And since you had many scenes with Aditi Rao Hydari, how was your rapport with her?

She’s such a professional and had full respect for what I was bringing to the table, so there was a genuine mutual respect between us. She’s not only a great actor but also a fantastic coworker. She hits her marks and remembers her lines with precision—she’s incredibly competent and very good at what she does. Moreover, she has a compelling screen presence; she’s just interesting to watch. Sonakshi, in particular, delivered a standout performance. But honestly, everyone in the cast was exceptional. It was a pleasure to work with such talented and professional individuals.

Can you recall some fond memories from the sets of Heeramandi?

I had several scenes with Jason that unfortunately ended up being cut—a common occurrence as the production fine-tuned the project. Jason was very cool to work with. He’s a diligent actor, and I appreciated his work ethic. There was one night shoot where we had to do multiple takes—around 15 to 20 takes for each setup. It was a long and tiring process, lasting about 12 hours just to shoot a single page. It felt as though we were making slight adjustments repeatedly, which was physically and mentally exhausting for us as actors. Despite the challenges, there was a particular take where we all felt we had nailed it, but then we were asked for additional takes for minor details like adding smoke in the background. This meticulous attention to detail and perfectionism was exemplified by Sanjay Leela Bansali – known for his precise vision. Interestingly, when Bansali himself was present, he made swift decisions, often requiring only a few takes to get the shot exactly as he envisioned, contrasting the lengthy process when he wasn’t physically there to direct.

Let’s talk about your role in Savarkar. You played Reginald Craddock. Tell us your experience working alongside Randeep Hooda, what kind of director he was and how did you go about prepping for it?

The movie was incredibly complex, especially for Randeep Hooda. He had extensive preparation leading up to the shoot. When I joined the production, it was towards the end of filming. We shot in Andaman Islands, including the actual jail scenes, which created an eerie atmosphere. The stress was palpable on set, making it far from a comfortable shoot for anyone involved, particularly the director. He was visibly under pressure, barely eating, and overseeing multiple roles like acting, directing, and producing.

The long, grueling hours added to the strain. I recall a day starting at 2 a.m. and lasting for 18 hours under intense heat. Despite the challenges, when I finally watched the film, I was thoroughly impressed. The end result exceeded my expectations. The director’s hard work and dedication truly shone through; he did an exceptional job bringing the project to life.

Last time we talked, you expressed your excitement for Devil. But I was reading some articles where you’ve revealed that the makers didn’t give you your dues. What actually happened on that front and whether it has been resolved?

It was a thrilling moment for me to land my first lead villain role. The whole crew and cast had a great rapport, and I was genuinely excited, especially about the intense fight scene at the end. However, my excitement turned into disappointment when the payment issues arose after the final schedule. After the last shoot, the production team kept delaying payment, apologizing and promising to send the payment in a few days—this cycle repeated for nine long months. The frustration reached its peak when I saw my face on the film’s poster and trailer as the villain, but with someone else’s voice. As the film’s release date approached, I realized I had to speak up. It was unfair and unethical, and I knew I wasn’t the only one facing this issue. Upon taking the matter public, the producers quickly resolved the payment matter the next day after an article exposed the situation. The incident shed light on the prevalence of similar payment troubles within the industry. While I appreciate the swift resolution, it shouldn’t have required public intervention. My hope is that such situations can be handled professionally and promptly without unnecessary distress to all involved.