Mahira Khan’s performance in Shah Rukh Khan’s Raees won over Indian audiences. In a BBC Asian Network interview, the actor discussed being offered Heeramandi and meeting Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
“I love Sanjay Leela Bhansali and have been his biggest fan,” Mahira Khan said of her friend’s name suggestion. About 15 years ago, I attended my childhood friend’s wedding to an Indian man. Sanjay Leela Bhansali was seeking a Pakistani actress in Bombay. Thanks to Moin Beg for the idea. He was sitting with designer Rizwan Beg discussing their inability to find a girl. My Mumbai friend went to Pakistan to find Rizwan Beg clothing for her wedding. Moin Beg said they needed a Pakistani girl. My friend Sharmeen asked, ‘Have you seen Mahira?’ She took me to meet them without telling me she’s a VJ.”
“I wore an old white salwar kameez to a studio. A man looked at me and asked, ‘Are you Madhubala?’ 30 minutes later. ‘Would you like it if you did an Indian film?’ I said yes. I said, “Yes, but with Shah Rukh Khan.” Check the mindset. He added, “You are coming to India and I would like you to meet Sanjay Leela Bhansali.”
Sanjay Leela Bhansali was not in Mumbai when she arrived, but Moin Beg called her the day before she left for Pakistan to say he wanted to meet her. The filmmaker wanted her makeup-free photos, so she did one.
She praised Sanjay Leela Bhansali and recalled meeting him, “What a man! genius and creative. ‘Can you wipe your lipstick off?’ I said ‘I’m not wearing lipstick’. He said, ‘wipe it off’ and I did. He said “wow”. I learned about Heeramandi from him. He was excited to include me, but it didn’t work out. A film was in production, and then attacks occurred. Political issues prevented me from working.”
“That time, don’t tell him you’re married,” she said. That night I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t sleep from anxiety. I told Moin Baeg I wanted Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s number to tell him I’m married. He asked why? This is the dream, I said. I always wanted to be an actor, but I can’t lie. I called him and told him, and he said, “Don’t worry.” Request an audition. That happened after the audition of a Mughal-e-azam piece. I went there for ‘Raees’ and met him during filming.”
Heeramandi debuted on Netflix this year. The show is set during the Indian independence revolution. Heeramandi courtesans in Lahore fight British Raj officials in the series. It stars Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Shaikh, Fardeen Khan, Taha Shah Badussha, Shekhar Suman, and Adhyayan Suman A second season is planned.
