In a recent interview, Bollywood director Rahul Dholakia revealed the process of casting Mahira Khan for his film Raees. He shared that the decision was influenced by suggestions from Gauri Khan and her mother.
Rahul said that he was looking for an actress who could play the role of an ’80s Muslim girl, her Hindi had to be clear and should look innocent.
He further said that, since she was to be paired with Shah Rukh Khan, he wanted someone in the age bracket of 30 to 35 years.
Discussing the options for actresses in Raees, Rahul said that there were very few who matched the character’s requirements, including Deepika Padukone, Kareena Kapoor, and Anushka Sharma. However, he noted two main issues: firstly, these actresses were expensive, and secondly, the role was too small for them.
He further explained that during this process, both Gauri Khan and his mother independently viewed Mahira and advised that she was suitable for the role. In his interview, he also said that at that time, Mahira Khan was in Bombay working on a shoot for Zee TV. So, they arranged an audition, and after the audition, he said, “I found my Aasiya.”
The movie Raees, directed by Rahul Dholakia, featured Shah Rukh Khan as Raees Alam, a gangster-turned-MLA and the anti-hero protagonist. Mahira Khan played the role of his wife, Aasiya Qazi. Her performance was well-received, earning her significant appreciation for her portrayal of Aasiya in the film.
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