Guess who was the first choice for female lead opposite Shah Rukh Khan in ‘Raees?’

Every girl who wants to enter in films as a leading lady dreams to be paired opposite the ‘King of Romance’ Shah Rukh Khan. Some top actresses of today like Deepika Padukone and Anushka Sharma lived this dream when they worked with him in their debut film itself. The recent lucky one to get this opportunity is Pakistani actress Mahira Khan who will star opposite him in his upcoming film ‘Raees.’ The movie has been in the news after getting a tremendous positive reaction from the audiences for its official teaser. But this dream debut for Mahira couldn’t have been possible, What was that road block?

Apparently, the makers of the movie had ‘Gangs of Wasseypur’ actress Huma Qureshi as their first choice to play the lead part. Sources say “Huma Qureshi was first approached by the makers. They thought Huma would fit the bill and also they wanted a fresh pairing of sorts. But then, they got Mahira on board because the character required the actress to have a certain kind of mannerism and lingo and being a Pakistani, Mahira totally nailed it.”

“The film is based in the backdrop of the Muslim ghetto in Gujarat and Raees is essentially a story of this man who becomes powerful. The heroine’s role is also a prominent one – that of SRK’s wife, a Muslim woman.” added the source.

So, certainly Huma’s loss was Mahira’s gain for this coveted part.

Currently, ‘Raees’ is in the final phase of its shoot and reportedly will wrap up by the end of January. This Rahul Dholakia directorial stars Nawazuddin Siddiqui in an important role. It is slated to release during the festive season of Eid on July 8, 2016.

Also Read: NEW STILL FROM SHAH RUKH KHAN’S RAEES IMPARTS DEJA VU FEELING

Amod Pandit

Quiet, resonant, and creative, he can be seen immersed in his own world, and puts in his heart and soul into the one passion that he has, Bollywood. His line for survival? Feel happy to be a part of it.