Mahira Khan recalls how she was offered Heeramandi by Sanjay Leela Bhansali

Mahira Khan recently reflected on her early career and the opportunity she had to work with renowned filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali during an interview with BBC Asian Network. The Pakistani actress, who gained widespread recognition in India for her role in Shah Rukh Khan's film "Raees," shared her experience of being offered a role in the series "Heeramandi" during her first meeting with Bhansali

Recalling the circumstances that led to this meeting, Mahira explained that a friend had suggested her name to Bhansali while they were attending a wedding in Mumbai. “I love Sanjay Leela Bhansali and have been a huge fan of his work for years. This was about 15 years ago at my childhood friend's wedding, where she was marrying an Indian man. Bhansali was looking for a Pakistani actress,” she said. Mahira credited her friend Sharmeen for introducing her to the filmmaker, stating, “Without telling me, she took me to meet them.”

Dressed in a simple white salwar kameez, Mahira arrived at the studio where Bhansali was present. After a brief conversation, he asked her if she would be interested in doing an Indian film. “I said yes, but only if it’s with Shah Rukh Khan,” she recalled, highlighting her aspirations at the time. Bhansali then expressed his desire for her to meet him when she came to India.

Although Bhansali was not in Mumbai when Mahira first arrived, he later reached out to her before she returned to Pakistan. She mentioned that she did a photoshoot without makeup as requested by the filmmaker. Reflecting on their meeting, Mahira praised Bhansali’s creativity and vision. “What a man he is! So creative and a genius,” she said. During their conversation, he asked her to wipe off her lipstick—only for her to clarify that she wasn’t wearing any.

At that time, Bhansali introduced the concept of "Heeramandi," expressing excitement about having Mahira on board. However, due to political issues following some attacks, the project did not materialize as planned.

Mahira also shared that there was an unspoken rule not to disclose her marital status during the initial discussions. Feeling anxious about starting her acting career with a lie, she decided to contact Bhansali directly to inform him of her marriage. “I told him this is my dream; I wanted to be an actor all my life, and I can't start it with a lie,” she recounted. Bhansali responded positively and requested an audition from her, which led to further interactions during the filming of "Raees."

"Heeramandi," which premiered on Netflix this year, is set against the backdrop of the Indian independence movement and explores the lives of courtesans in Lahore's red-light district during British rule. The series features a talented cast including Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Fardeen Khan, Taha Shah Badussha, Shekhar Suman, and Adhyayan Suman. A second season is already in development.