Mahira Khan’s statements on not being able to promote ‘Raees’ in India are heart-rending

Pakistani actress Mahira Khan may have carved a successful path in her home turf, but she had bigger dreams of pursuing a wonderful career in Bollywood which doesn’t seem to have taken off the way she had anticipated.

Even before her debut movie ‘Raees’ opposite superstar Shah Rukh Khan could hit the screens, she became a victim of the ban imposed on Pakistani artists due to the Uri attacks which claimed the lives of Indian soldiers last year. Unfortunately, she cannot promote her own movie in India and is unsure if her movie will release in Pakistan. Of course, she is heartbroken and disappointed with these developments, but has no reason to relent to it.

In an interview with a Pakistani newspaper, Mahira spoke candidly about how distressing it has been for her as an artiste to not be able to promote her movie with the team.

She said, “Yes I’m grateful, but 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 further spoke about the fate of the movie in Pakistan. She said, “I want my country to see this. I want everybody to see it, every person in the world. My friends keep saying you did it, it’s enough, you can just keep it in a box somewhere…I do that, but there’s a part of me that says, no, I want everybody to see my blood sweat and tears for these two years, because it’s been tough and I want people to see it even if I fail at it.”

We only hope that her dream is realized and her performance brings in lots of praises. ‘Raees’ is helmed by Rahul Dholakia and stars Shah Rukh Khan and Mahira Khan in lead roles. The movie is slated to release on January 25, 2017.

Prajakta Ajgaonkar

Passionate about writing, and a Bollywood lover, she is all that is sweet and endearing! She desires to put her best foot forward in everything that she does and loves to help anyone who’s in need.