Mahira Khan recently revealed an interesting backstory behind her Bollywood debut opposite Shah Rukh Khan in the 2017 film Raees. The Pakistani actress shared that she owes the opportunity to Gauri Khan’s mother, Savita Chhibber, who played a pivotal role in her casting.
According to Mahira, it was Savita, Gauri Khan’s mother, who saw her work and strongly recommended her to the Raees makers. Her endorsement helped Mahira land the coveted role, marking her entry into Bollywood. Working alongside Shah Rukh Khan was a dream come true for the actress, who felt grateful for the unexpected support she received. Casting director Honey Trehan was looking for an actress who could fit the role of an innocent 1980s Muslim girl and speak Hindi and Urdu fluently. Dholakia was one of those actresses. The candidates that immediately came to mind were Deepika Padukone, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Anushka Sharma; however, they either didn’t meet their requirements or were too costly. Furthermore, they desired a woman in her 30s for the part, but SRK was in his 50s. Sonam Kapoor and Katrina Kaif were further options.
At that point, Dholakia was recommended to Mahira by Gauri Khan’s mother, who had watched the actress in a Pakistani TV program. By happenstance, Mahira happened to be in Mumbai for some promotional work. She went to the Excel Entertainment co-producer’s office with Honey, where she had her Dholakia audition.
The movie not only brought her immense recognition but also made her one of the few Pakistani stars to share the screen with Bollywood’s biggest names.
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