Mahira Khan Recalls Meeting Sanjay Leela Bhansali For Heeramandi: 'I Told Him I Am Married...'
Pakistani actor Mahira Khan recently shared the story about being offered 'Heeramandi' by filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali.
Pakistani actor Mahira Khan recently shared the story about being offered 'Heeramandi' by filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali. Mahira shared in an interview that she was considered for the Heeramandi film long before it became a Netflix series.
How Mahira Khan was considered for Heeramandi
In an interview with BBC Asian Network, Mahira fondly recalled her first encounter with the acclaimed filmmaker, which took place over 15 years ago. She recounted the story of how fate and chance aligned, starting with her attending a friend’s wedding in Mumbai. “I love Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and I have been the biggest fan of his work,” Mahira said. She explained that a mutual connection, designer Moin Beg, was on the lookout for a Pakistani actor for Bhansali’s project.
“Shoutout to Moin Beg, who came up with this concept,” Mahira shared, narrating how her friend unknowingly introduced her. “Without telling me, she took me to meet them.” At the time, Mahira was dressed in a simple white salwar kameez.
“There was a guy looking at me and half an hour later, he said, ‘Are you Madhubala?’ I said yes and then he said, ‘Would you like it if you did an Indian film?’ I said, ‘Yes I’ll do, but with Shah Rukh Khan,” she added.
Mahira Khan's meeting with Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Mahira shared that when she arrived in Mumbai, Sanjay Leela Bhansali wasn’t in town. However, just before she was scheduled to return to Pakistan, Moin Beg informed her that the celebrated filmmaker wanted to meet her. Mahira recounted that Bhansali requested a photoshoot—completely makeup-free—because he wanted to see her natural look.
Talking about their meeting, Mahira couldn’t help but praise Bhansali's unique creative vision. “What a man he is! So creative and a genius,” she remarked. Recalling a candid moment during their interaction, she said, “He said, ‘Can you wipe your lipstick off?’ I said, ‘I’m not wearing any lipstick.’ So, he said, ‘Wipe it off,’ and I did. He said, ‘Wow.’”
Mahira further revealed that at the time, Bhansali spoke passionately about Heeramandi, which was initially envisioned as a film. However, political tensions between India and Pakistan eventually prevented her from being part of the project.
When Mahira told Bhansali she is married
Mahira also shared her internal conflict about concealing her marital status during that period. She said, “That time, it was this thing that don’t tell him you’re married. That night I couldn’t sleep. I was anxious and couldn’t sleep.”
Mahira decided to confess the truth to Bhansali. “I told Moin Baeg that I want Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s number because I want to tell him that I’m married. He said why? I said, because this is the dream. I wanted to be an actor all my life, and I can’t start it with a lie. I called him up and told him this, and he said, ‘Aaah okay don’t worry. Send me an audition, she said.
The audition turned out to be a scene from the classic Mughal-e-Azam.
Heeramandi series
While Mahira couldn’t be part of 'Heeramandi', the project eventually evolved into a successful Netflix series set against the backdrop of India’s freedom movement. The show dives into the lives of courtesans in Lahore’s Heeramandi district during the British Raj. Featuring a stellar cast that includes Sonakshi Sinha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Richa Chadha, Sanjeeda Shaikh, and others, the series has received widespread acclaim.
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