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with Thursdays finale on HBO Max.Questions likeHow has only a year passed in this timeline?
and Why does LTW need so many pockets in her painting outfit?remain unanswered.
Michael Patrick King, the showrunner, was like, Sarita, did you notice?
and I walked around and I was like, No!
I almost felt like I didnt have to act because all these things are acting for me.
The moment of the shoe I love that because, for me, cinema has iconic moments.
Its not like you go around thinking you want one, but Ive never had one I can remember.
But it reminded me of Italian cinema, the cigarette, the stubbing.
My first thought was,Oh, good.
I love that it entered through a lie, which is so specific and personal.
My Iranian cultural heritage also has that arranged-marriage component.
There was part of me watching that thought,Ugh, an arranged-marriage story line.
Then I took a step back and thought,But thats true.
I recognize this because I lived this as well.I know exactly what you mean.
]Oh, thank God, Im wearing a sari I never get to wear them.
Thats whats new about the scene: Shes 53, and theyre still trying to get her married.
For me, it was the age thing that was interesting in this context.
The legendary actors Madhur Jaffrey and Ajay Mehta play Seemas parents.
How was working with them?Madhur is almost more family than someone Ive worked with.
I know her daughter very well, Sakina.
But Ive never really been on a set with her.
The minute she arrived on set, I was so ridiculous.
I ran; I was knocking on her trailer.
And I saw that in that second.
I was thinking of her in her early films.
It was a big moment.
I didnt know Ajay well; weve crossed paths.
Immediately, I was like,Oh, hes good.
Hes good at this.
I was talking with some aunties and saying, What do you think of this?
And they were just laughing; they dont even care.
And I was like,Oh, this is what I want Seema to be.
I love the punchy flirtation Seema has with Zed.
In the finale, you see they spent three days together in a hotel suite.
What do you imagine as their future?
The fourth day, if it wasnt, shed be like,No, Im not with him anymore.
I think she claims the present.
She needs someone cheekier and bigger than her, who walks faster than her.
Its hard to find that when youre a powerful woman in New York City.
Seema runs a thriving real-estate business.
You live in New York.
And its so odd because I dont even wear heels.
Im that person; thats the way I get real estate.
Or I lived in the Lower East Side, on Pitt Street, and it was a sixth-floor walk-up.
Everything was inconvenient about it, but I will never forget the feeling of,Im a downtowner.
But it was the kind of apartment I couldnt even invite my parents to.
Ive always known Ive never wanted a doorman.
Thats all I know.
You watched the originalSex and the Cityafter a breakup while living in Italy.
Whats interesting about the original series is that I always felt happy watching it.
It was like a whole dialogue with my brain.
We all experience embarrassing things in our lives, and theyre heartbreaking when they happen.
It just took the edge off my life.
And also because shes such a great acting partner, Sarah Jessica.
When you think of two women, there has to be chemistry, too.
Sometimes its you look at them, they look at you, you look away, and you laugh.
Its an odd moment that cues you into that.
Seema wears such beautiful outfits curated by costume designers Molly Rogers and Danny Santiago.
What were your favorites?Its the first time as an actress that every outfit felt special.
And every time I would say to Molly, How much does this cost?
Shed be like, Sarita, dont ask.
I was kind of like,Thats so subtle and cool.
If I go to a store, I would never pick those things.
I really loved my blue sparkly one.
The negligee in the last scene, I loved.
Molly and Danny showed me a few, and that one had an edge to it.
There was a quality to that material that wasnt your typical silk or slinky.
That just doesnt exist.
Thats pure Italian cinema.
Seema speaks fondly of attending the Barneys Warehouse Sale and cutting a bitch for cashmere.
Have you ever done either of these things?
[Yelps] No!
You asked that question as seriously as if you were asking me what books Im reading right now.
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.
