Mahira Khan: I have been misquoted and it is completely ridiculous!
Pakistani actress Mahira Khan recently made her dream Bollywood debut in 'Raees' opposite Shah Rukh Khan. Unfortunately for her, she could not promote the movie in India owing to the cross border tension between India and Pakistan post the Uri attacks. Dejected by this the actress recently said, "I also want to promote the film. I also want to be in an interview with Shah Rukh Khan talking about it. Why not? Why is it I get told that that's asking for too much? It isn't! It is my right. This was also my film."
While many feel it was her huge fan following in Pakistan that helped her bag a role in 'Raees', a leading website recently had a different tale to tell. The website reported that before 'Raees' happened, Mahira had been staying in Santacruz with a roommate and was struggling to get work. She had been auditioning and trying really hard before she was picked by Rahul Dholakia as the leading lady opposite SRK.
Mahira however took to her Twitter handle and tweeted that she has been misquoted and the story about her being in Mumbai prior to 'Raees' and struggling for work is 'completely ridiculous'.
I've been misquoted, videos taken out context.. but this is a completely ridiculous! https://twitter.com/spotboye/status/825006613320892416 ...
Raees Heroine Mahira Khan In Santacruz, Mumbai! How did it happen?
And when? Also, why? And how is it that we didn't know that Shah Rukh's leading lady of Raees, Mahira Khan, was right in our midst?


Image Source: thenational
Shah Rukh Khan followed suit but not before assuring Thackeray that Mahira Khan would not visit India to promote the upcoming Raees, which stars him in the lead. And Mahira did not.
But did you know that Mahira was lodged in Santacruz (Mumbai) for a long period of time before Rahul Dholakia chose her for Raees?
She was staying with a roomie and auditioning for many roles in Bollywood. She was a struggler in literal sense.
She had a friend in Goregaon whom she often visited. That friend wanted to make it as a writer in Bollywood. That she did not is another story.
Back to Mahira. A source says, "She looked very simple then. She was very keen that she should get work, but was finding it very tough to get her first break."
Raees happened for her, but a second film in Bollywood looks a distance away if it happens at all. Only when the relations between India and Pakistan improve in real sense, and if and when the ban on Pakistani artistes is lifted.
Image Source: mediamagick
Mahira recently spoke to a section of the media and voiced her frustration at being left out of the promotions in India. "It's something I have worked for! Why shouldn't I feel it? Just because I'm an actor? Just because it's a film? Just because it seems like fluff? I also want to promote the film. I also want to be in an interview with Shah Rukh Khan talking about it. Why not? Why is it I get told that that's asking for too much? It isn't! It is my right. This was also my film," she had said, as reported in leading newspapers and websites.
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