Waheeda is the younger sister of Mallikajaan and a relentless dreamer in pursuit of her goal, which is to own the Khwabgah. Sanjeeda Sheikh plays the character in Netflix’s Heeramandi.
There are not many who can speak over or argue with the huzoor of Shahi Mahal, Mallikajaan. Everyone has to abide by her demands and oblige her.
She has the last word and her orders and even casual words hold authority and absolute power, not just inside Shahi Mahal, but also beyond.
Which is what makes her younger sister Waheeda such an outlier because she routinely goes against her sister. She can spit out venom against her all she wants to.
The witness
Waheeda witnessed Mallika killing their eldest sister Rehana and staging her death to look like a suicide. Mallika was bailed out by her patron Zulfikar, the Nawab who bribed the officer at that time to get the case file into his own hands.
He gave that file to Mallika and she gave it to Waheeda. She held on to that file. That is because when she didn’t get the keys to Khwabgah, she tried to blackmail Mallika Zulfikar.
In return, Zulfikar scarred her face permanently. The case for the ownership of Khwabgah went to court, and Mallika dragged it for decades.
The tragic loser
All this time, Waheeda remained at Shahi Mahal, on the promise that Mallika would eventually give the keys to Khwabgah over to her.
However, when the time came, the ownership went to Fareedan, and Waheeda was betrayed again.
Waheeda is perhaps the most tragic person as she keeps switching sides and compromising her loyalty to get her hands on Khwabgah and and realize her dreams of becoming a Huzoor herself.
However, each of her attempts was in vain and she was used and duped every time.Â
A bad mother
She also becomes much like her sister Mallika, in that her pain and trauma have also made her into a toughened and bitter person.
She keeps a tight leash on her daughter and forces her to call her a sister instead of a mother in front of others.Â
Her treatment eventually pushes her daughter enough for her to turn against her mother.
She takes revenge by snatching Waheeda’s patron for herself. When Waheeda protests it and demands justice from Mallika, the Huzoor allows her daughter to continue servicing the patron.
Beyond the scars
Waheeda turns to Fareedan and gives her the case file on her mother’s murder, hoping she’ll take down Mallika. However, when Mallika gains leverage against Fareedan, she ditches the file idea.
Waheeda remains a bitter, poor woman among a sea of women who are all more or less tragic people. However, when it counts and during really tense and high-stakes situations, she sticks by her family.
Waheeda also participates in the anti-colonial march and contributes to the freedom movement.
Also Read: Heeramandi summary and ending explained