Indian film director Rahul Dholaika considered top Bollywood actresses like Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, and Kaitrina for his film Raees, but none were the right fit. Instead, actress Mahira Khan caught his attention and was chosen to play Aasiya opposite Shahrukh Khan.
During his appearance as a guest on Mashable India, director Rahul Dholaika explained why he picked Mahira Khan for his film Raees.
“We wanted an 80s Muslim girl. Number one criteria is Hindi, secondly, her Urdu should have a little twang, if she has it, is even better. The other is she has to be innocent. Okay, now you have Shahrukh, who is 50, so you need someone whose screen age is 30-something or 35. You need somebody who is at least 30 plus or around 30 as an actress, now, an actress around 30 who is innocent. There are very few of them. There was Deepika, there was Kareena, and there was Anushka. So, there were these three or four heroines that were there.”
As the casting process went on, it became clear that finding an actress who fit all the requirements for Aasiya was not easy, Dholaika explained, saying, “So now, if you have these three or four heroines, then either they are too expensive, or the role is too small for them. So we went through that gamut, and we said, ‘Yeah, Sonam, Katrina,’ you know, went through the whole list of it. And then at the end of it all, we decided this is not working for us. If it’s working for Farhan, it’s not working for Shahrukh, it’s not working for Shahrukh and Farhan, not working for me. Now, you don’t want him to romance Alia, you know, or something like that. “
“I think Gauri’s mom had seen Mahira, and my mom had seen Mahira independently. I told the casting director, ‘Do you know her? What do you think of her?’ So, he said, ‘She’s here in BB Fashion.’ That’s how it happened,” the Raees director added.
Raees was released in 2017, with Shahrukh Khan, Mahira Khan, Nawazuddin Siddiqui, Pawan Singh, Mohd Zeeshan Ayub, and Raj Arjun starring in the film.
Tag: Raees
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Why Mahira Khan was picked over Kareena, Deepika, and Katrina for Raees
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What did Mahira Khan wear on her wedding?
Last night social media was ablaze when short clips released by superstar Mahira Khan’s manager Anushay Talha, and brother Hissan Khan, showed the actress getting married in a dreamy ceremony to her long time beau, Salim Karim. The seven second video was moving enough to make social media tear up as their favourite actress found her happily ever after. Most importantly, it was her gorgeous wedding dress that mesmerised everyone.
The ‘Verna’ actress embodied every bit of the happy bride. She looked stunning in an ivory lengha choli silver ensemble, taking the pastel bride route that many Bollywood actresses like Parineeti Chopra, Kiara Advani and Alia Bhatt had embraced as well on their wedding days. To top her look, Pakistan’s sweetheart chose to go for a simple makeup look with her hair pulled back in a bun. As for jewelry, she picked an elegant diamond jewelry set which consisted of a choker necklace, jhumkas and a mang tikka, and a sheer veil donned over in a graceful manner as she walked down the aisle to her betrothed.
Mahira wanted to include only close friends and family to take part on her big day as well as her wedding dress. Her wedding dress was exclusively designed by longtime friend and fashion collaborator Faraz Manan, who confirmed this by sharing the post Mahira’s manager had uploaded.
Faraz Manan is one of the most sought out Pakistani fashion designers who has also worked with Bollywood stars like Aliya Bhatt, Kareena Kapoor and Deepika Padukone.
In June, Faraz Manan was selected to dress ace footballer Christiano Ronaldo’s partner Georgina Rodriguez for Harper Bazar’s Arabia cover.
Mahira Khan sparked rumors about her new-found romance in 2020 during an interview with Samina Peerzada, where she simply confirmed that she’s in love with someone now. In a live session with fashion designer HSY, the actress opened up about her romance with Salim, and said she was very happy in her relationship:
“There’s a line in Humsafar, which I thought was beautiful, where Ashar says to Khirad, ‘Pata nahi tum mujhe kis naiki kay badlay main milli ho. I think the same about him. I must have done something good in my life.”
READ MORE: VIDEO: HSY accidentally reveals the name of Mahira Khan’s mystery man
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Indian director has a wish related to Pakistani actors, musicians
After viral videos showed the Pakistani cricket team getting a warm reception at Hyderabad from fans and media alike, its clear that the politics of hate failed to diminish the love and respect Indian fans have for Pakistani celebrities, and vice versa. Given this, Indian director Rahul Dholakia has suggested that it’s about time Pakistani actors were given permission to act in Indian films.
“Now that Pakistani cricketers are officially here, can we also invite Pakistani actors to act in our films? Or musicians to perform?” the ‘Raees’ director wrote in a viral tweet.
Now that #Pakistani cricketers are officially here, can we also invite Pakistani actors to act in our films ? Or Musicians to perform?
— rahul dholakia (@rahuldholakia) September 28, 2023
Rahul Dholakia’s film ‘Raees’ starred Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and Pakistani actress Mahira Khan. Recently, in a podcast FWhy with Freiha Altaf, the actress spoke at length about the backlash she received after the ban was imposed, preventing Pakistani actors from working in India, and how it impacted her mental health. The ‘Razia’ actress revealed that she was diagnosed with manic depression and has been on medication for the past six to seven years.
READ MORE: ‘Psychiatrist told me I had manic depression’, Mahira opens up about mental health
“I talk it every chance I get. This is the first time I’m opening up about the fact that I’ve been taking medicine for so many years. And when I tried leaving it like I said it was bad… And I was again in and out of hospitals trying to get help. But yes, everybody has ups and downs, bad times and happy times, but clinical depression is real like any other mental illness or physical illness.”
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‘Psychiatrist told me I had manic depression’, Mahira opens up about mental health
Superstar Mahira Khan was a guest on Frieha Altaf’s podcast where she opened up about learning to face her mental health struggles, especially after stepping into Bollywood with the Shah Rukh Khan starrer ‘Raees’, and the 2017 incident where pictures of her smoking with Ranbir Kapoor emerged online. She also talked about the 2016 Uri attack, after which Pakistani actors were banned from working in Bollywood.
Reflecting on that time, the actress revealed she dealt with immense backlash, calling it “unexpected”.
Mahira said she was getting scary calls, hateful messages to the point that she couldn’t travel to India to promote ‘Raees’, which was heartbreaking and it began creating anxiety and depression. The ‘Hum Kahan Kay Sachay Thay’ actress revealed she was constantly seeing her image on television screens, and getting hateful messages telling her to leave India, and it escalated to the point that her faith broke.
“I developed severe anxiety to the point that one day I had a panic attack and fainted’ recalled Mahira. “That’s the first time I went for therapy.”
“But that didn’t work out, as I went to several therapists. But either I was not opening up, or the therapist sitting across me would be looking at me with awe thinking ‘what would she have to complain about’?”
Raees released in 2017, the same year Mahira’s Pakistani film ‘Verna’ released across Pakistan, and at the same time, the picture scandal happened.
“I couldn’t sleep, my hands would shake,” the ‘Bin Roye’ actress confessed.
Mahira said she eventually visited a psychiatric hospital, where she was informed that she had manic depression. The actress said for the past six or seven years she has been on anti-depressants. She once tried quitting the meds in the middle which put her in a dark hole.
“I did understand that there is something beyond me. Beyond the prayers i will do, beyond the friends that will cheer me up, beyond work and success. There is something not right, and it’s okay.”
The ‘Superstar’ actress said that by talking about her mental health struggles and breaking the stigma surrounding the topic, she hoped more people would learn to approach others for help rather than treat it with shame.
“I talk it every chance I get. This is the first time I’m opening up about the fact that I’ve been taking medicine for so many years. And when I tried leaving it like I said it was bad… And I was again in and out of hospitals trying to get help. But yes, everybody has ups and downs, bad times and happy times, but clinical depression is real like any other mental illness or physical illness.”
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Mahira Khan reveals her most special scene with Shah Rukh Khan
Superstar Mahira Khan has spilled the beans on her career, co-stars, and more in an ‘Ask Mahira’ session on Twitter.
The Bin Roye diva was asked about a scene that she would like to recreate with her Bollywood debut, Raees co-star Shah Rukh Khan from their hit film. Khan cited a still from the song Zalima and wrote, “This! ;)”
The still featured Mahira and Shah Rukh in a lovey-dovey zone. Raees was released in January 2017 and entered the 100-crore club.
When a fan asked what her journey from Khirad Hussain to Mukkho Jatti has been like, she quipped, “Long but magical! Pakki pakki mashooq hoon!”
The Legend of Maula Jatt star even revealed that while she may not immediately return for another TV serial after Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay, there is something “special” in store for her fans — a series perhaps — “who knows?” she teased.
Mahira also confessed that while she’s still trying to figure out where all the love — love one doesn’t know they’re even capable of showing — is supposed to go when a dear one leaves, she believes in connecting with herself and the creator. “I’m feeling low and I miss my Twitter family. So should we do an ‘Ask Mahira’? she initiated on the micro-blogging site on Saturday evening.
When a user asked what makes a social media detox difficult, Mahira replied, “Only you guys, absolutely nothing else!” Another inquired, “When are we getting the first look of Neelofar?” Mahira answered, “Was meant to be soonish. InshaAllah. Producer sahab decides. I’ve seen it and…” she completed her sentence with some wholesome emojis.
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Shah Rukh Khan themed dholak in Pakistan receives mixed responses
A Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan (SRK)-themed dholak for a soon-to-be-married couple was arranged in Pakistan.
The dholak is getting a lot of public attention after pictures from the event went viral on social media.
The pictures and videos of the unique event show the guests wearing cut-outs of SRK and dancing to his songs.
The masks were images from SRK’s various characters from his movies such as Devdas, Raees, Don, and many more.
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This unique Shah Rukh Khan-themed dholak received mixed responses. Some people found it cute but it also received backlash for using Indian actor as a theme for a Pakistani wedding function. After the event went viral, videos of the event have been deleted by the user on Instagram.
Here’s a look at the responses by the public given to this themed wedding function.
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‘Raees’ director Rahul Dholakia is set to binge-watch ‘HKKST’ for Mahira Khan
Indian film director, Rahul Dholakia of Raees fame has said that his mother has strongly recommended him to watch Mahira Khan’s Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay.
Taking to Instagram stories, Rahul wrote: “My mom strongly recommends #humkahankesachaythay of the supremely talented @TheMahiraKhan!! Now I have to watch it – and I am so looking forward to it.”
The drama Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay is written by Umera Ahmed and directed by Farooq Rind, the cast of the drama also features Usman Mukhtar, Kubra Khan and Haroon Shahid.
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I would have rejected ‘Raees’ if I was Mahira’: Sonya Hussyn
Sonya Hussyn appeared on Yasir Hussain’s The After Moon Show in 2018. During the rapid fire segment of the show, Yasir asked Sonya that if she was Mahira Khan which film of hers she would have not done? The Karachi Se Lahore actor gave her three options: Verna, Raees and Ho Mann Jahan.
Sonya replied that it would be Raees, she elaborated her answer by stating that “No never it’s not my dream to work with Shah Rukh Khan”, said Sonya adding, “You should [play] the character in which you are prominent and [is] not the side [kick] of the hero.”
Mahira won acclaim for her performance in her Bollywood debut, Raees which entered the 100 Crore club and catapulted Mahira to superstardom.
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VIDEO: Mahira Khan jams to Humsafar
Mahira Khan recently participated in ‘Carpool Karoke’ with vlogger Imaara Dharani during which she jammed to songs from her films and dramas and shared some fun facts about them.
Mahira, jammed to, Humsafar, which is her most special project.
She also sang Hona Tha Pyar from her first film Bol, in which she was paired opposite Atif Aslam. Mahira, while talking about the song said that shooting it was a fun experience.
Ballay Ballay from Bin Roye also made it to the playlist, with Mahira sharing that the film took two years to complete.
How can any Mahira Khan playlist be complete without Zaalima from Raees? Zaalima was the last song on the Carpool Karoke playlist and Mahira revealed that the song was shot in Morocco.
After winning applause for her acting, Mahira has recently turned producer with a web series titled Baarwan Khiladi.
Baarwan Khiladi, which features young and upcoming actors including Danyal Zafar, Shahveer Jafry, Kinza Hashmi and Khaqan Shahnawaz, has a cricket-themed story.