For Shernavaz Jijina, some of the most valuable work on Mirzapur happened in rehearsal—and continued even when the camera was pointed only at her. In her conversation with Famous TV for Confessions, the actor describes how repeated practice and a generous scene partner helped her develop Shabnam.
Her account offers a practical look at screen acting beyond the finished scene. A performance does not depend solely on the actor visible in the frame. The preparation beforehand, and the responses coming from the other side of the camera, can matter just as much.
A scene partner who stays involved
Asked whose work ethic impressed her, Jijina singles out Ali Fazal. She recalls watching him rehearse repeatedly, looking for ways to make his character sharper and more relatable rather than treating rehearsal as a task to finish once.
That approach extended to their work together. Jijina says they practised dialogue delivery and explored ways of bringing more of her own personality into Shabnam. In her telling, the aim was to make the character feel more authentic, not simply to perfect the delivery of individual lines.
She also remembers Fazal sitting behind the camera during her solo shots and continuing to give her cues with the enthusiasm he brought to scenes they shared. It is a specific example of the collaborative work an audience may never see: one actor remaining engaged so that another has something alive to respond to.
Finding strength in a quieter character
Jijina's reflections on Shabnam also challenge the idea that a forceful presence must always be a loud one. Asked what the character taught her, she describes the possibility of being gentle and caring while still making one's presence felt.
She is careful to distinguish the character from herself. Elsewhere in the conversation, Jijina says viewers sometimes assume she shares Shabnam's quiet temperament, whereas she sees herself as much louder and goofier. Playing the role is not simply a matter of appearing as herself on camera.
Mirzapur, she says, gave her greater visibility and opportunities to demonstrate her work. But her enthusiasm for the ensemble rests on something more immediate: returning to a set where she can keep learning from other actors.
Together, those memories show two sides of building Shabnam—the repeated, practical work of rehearsal and the attention needed to give a quieter character a distinct presence.
Watch the full conversation on Famous TV’s YouTube channel.