Mumbai: Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees, released in 2017, was one of the highest grossing Hindi films of the year. However, the film fell short of all expectations and is now considered an underperformer. A key part of the film was Pakistani actress Mahira Khan, who made her Bollywood debut.
But why was Mahira cast opposite Shah Rukh Khan? Director Rahul Dholakia shared the interesting story behind this decision.
Searching for the right actress
Rahul Dholakia wanted a female lead who could play a Muslim girl from the 80s, someone in her 30s with good Hindi skills and some Urdu. While popular Bollywood actresses like Deepika Padukone, Kareena Kapoor and Anushka Sharma were considered, they were either too expensive or didn’t suit the role. Other actresses like Sonam Kapoor and Katrina Kaif were also considered but did not work for the character.
The director needed someone who could match Shah Rukh Khan, who was 50 at the time. Dholakia said, “Shah Rukh Khan can’t romance Alia Bhatt!” He needed an actress with the right combination of innocence and maturity.
How Mahira Khan was selected
Mahira got into the role thanks to a recommendation from Dholakia and Shah Rukh Khan’s mothers, who had seen her on Pakistani TV shows. Honey Trehan, the casting director, arranged an audition for Mahira and after seeing her, Dholakia knew he had found his Aasiya, the female lead.
Mahira’s side of the story
Mahira shared her experience at the Faiz International Festival in 2016. She said that while promoting her TV show Humsafar in Mumbai, she got a call for a ‘big film’. After several meetings and an audition, she was told that she would be acting alongside Shah Rukh Khan. It was a dream come true for her and the opportunity was too good to pass up.
The impact of Raees
Although Raees faced some political issues due to Mahira’s involvement, her performance was praised and the film remains important in both her and Shah Rukh Khan’s careers. Mahira’s chemistry with SRK and the song ‘Zaalima’ became particularly memorable.
