Mahira Khan reveals how she bagged Raees opposite Shah Rukh Khan: His mother-in-law had seen me in Humsafar and told him ‘check this girl out’ | EasternEye
Pakistani actress Mahira Khan made her dream Bollywood debut in Raees (2017) opposite none other than Shah Rukh Khan. The film, which also featured Nawazuddin Siddiqui in a significant role, turned out to be a box office hit despite clashing with Hrithik Roshan and Yami Gautam’s Kaabil at the ticket window.
Mahira Khan had earlier revealed how her mother just could not believe the news of her daughter doing a film opposite SRK and broke down into happy tears. But have you ever wondered how a Pakistani actress landed the lead role opposite Badshah of Bollywood?
Talking to a Pakistani YouTube channel, Mahira revealed that she had come to India to promote her show Humsafar when the makers of Raees approached her. Initially, she did not believe that they were approaching her to be cast opposite SRK, but she anyway went to meet the makers.
The actress further revealed that Shah Rukh Khan’s mother-in-law had seen her work in Humsafar and it was she who suggested her name to the superstar. “They had seen me on TV. It was actually Shah Rukh Khan’s mother-in-law who had seen me in Humsafar and she had told him to check this girl out,” she shared.
For those not in the know, Mahira Khan did not promote the film in India because Pakistani artists were banned to work in the country after the Uri attack in Jammu & Kashmir which claimed the lives of several Indian soldiers.
Meanwhile, the actress was most recently seen in The Legend of Maula Jatt, a Pakistani Punjabi-language action-drama film directed and written by Bilal Lashari. The film also stars Fawad Khan as the titular character with Hamza Ali Abbasi, and Humaima Malik in pivotal roles.
Keep visiting this space over and again for more updates and reveals from the world of entertainment.
The actress defended her claim that acting demands more than desk jobs in a recent interview.
She said office workers can "chill out" during work hours, unlike film stars.
Fans and working professionals called her comments privileged and out of touch.
The backlash started after her appearance on Amazon Prime's Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle.
Critics pointed out the financial gap and support systems actors have compared to regular employees.
Kajol probably didn't expect this reaction when she sat down with Twinkle Khanna on Two Much. But her comments about actors working harder than people with 9-to-5 jobs have blown up, and not in a good way.
Fans slam Kajol after she says actors work harder than regular employees sparking online outrage Getty Images
The comments that started it all
Kajol was speaking out about her earlier comments on Two Much with Kajol & Twinkle on Amazon Prime, where she said actors work harder than most people. This time she was explaining why she thinks that.
She told The Hollywood Reporter India that her days are full of shoots, events, and very early flights. One day involved waking at 5 AM to catch a flight to Jaipur for a 3 PM event.
But it was her take on regular jobs that got people talking. She claimed desk workers don't need to be "100% present" and can take breaks, "chill out," and relax while working. She kept coming back to the unending scrutiny actors face like the feeling of always being watched or something as simple as how you cross your legs or who's snapping a picture in the background becomes a constant calculation. You have to be switched on, she insisted, all the time.
The internet, frankly, was having none of it. YouTube and Reddit exploded with responses. "For the kind of remuneration actors are paid, they shouldn't have a problem working 12 hours a day for 4 days a week," one user wrote. Another pointed out that films typically take 3-4 months to shoot, while regular jobs run year-round.
The responses got more pointed. "Vanity mein naps or massages bhi toh hum lete hain," a Reddit user commented, referencing the comfort of vanity vans. Someone else joked: "If you work poorly, you get fired. If you act poorly, you get a Filmfare award."
The bluntest response yet? "Respectfully, Kajol, shut up."
Nobody denies acting is demanding. Long hours, public pressure, and constant judgement are very real. But comparing it to regular employment ignores some major differences.
Most people work 12 months a year with two weeks' holiday if they're lucky. They don't have spot boys fetching drinks or vanity vans for rest breaks. One netizen nailed it: "A working parent's schedule is continuous, every single day, with no wrap-up party or off-season."
Online erupts as Kajol defends claim that acting demands more than everyday 9-to-5 workGetty Images
There's also the money. While her fee for a single film is probably more than most people earn in a year, she says that doesn’t make the work easy. Still, it does provide a comfort that regular employees don’t have. Kajol has not yet replied to the backlash.
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