Responded to trolls because something very personal to me became public: Mahira Khan

Mahira Khan has been all over the news, all around the world - and recently, it's been due to her recently released film, Verna.

In an interview with City Times, the actor shared how the film's controversy and the online assault that followed, only made her stronger.

"I was quiet initially but I was  definitely not laughing over the situation. It is personal for sure. I decided to respond to trolls because something very personal to me became public."

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She continued, "For anybody being harassed and the issue becoming a national debate, it's not a nice thing. I don't know what made me do this  but I thought that I am going to take this on the chin and going to move forward," she said.

"It takes strength... but when you are hit with something and are in the storm, you fight it out. It is not that you are stronger than him or her. It is just that you walk out of the storm. Once you come out, you are stronger and more evolved," she added.

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The Bol star went on to talk about self definition, "I think that nobody should define you - if anything then you should define yourself. I learned during that period who I was, and I will not let anybody define me. Not to say that I don't take criticism and all of that."

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Speaking about director Shoaib Mansoor, Mahira shared, "When Shoaib calls you, it is hard to refuse. I am a big NO sayer but once I was told the story, I wanted to be part of the movie even though I knew it wouldn't be an easy film for me to do."

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When asked about the year 2017 in general, the actore expressed,  "This year has been a bitter-sweet symphony for me. Raees is so special - I was just dancing on my song Zaalima right before I came to the airport. I was at my best friend's birthday (party) and the last song that they played at 5am, was Zaalima."

She continued, "I am very happy with the response that the movie got. I wanted everything to be perfect nut in retrospect, I don't think I could have asked for more. Though, I felt bad that the movie did not release in Pakistan."

"When Verna was getting banned in Pakistan, I was like, 'No. Not twice in a year.' I would have taken a pirated copy of the film and sold it on my own. We make a film for the audiences. We do the work because it pleases us but eventually, it is the audiences that matter to us," Mahira added.

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Touching upon the sexual misconduct debate happening across the world, Mahira said, "The biggest and best thing out of this might be that our children and the generation after us, will probably not face such consequences as people will be 'scared'."

"Everything is linked to not having any accountability. If I can get away with murder, I will murder. If I can get away with stealing, I will steal. If I can get away with raping, I will rape," she exclaimed.



She went on to claim that it's all a game of power, "This is all power. Harassment is power. Rape is power. All these things are just to show power. Hopefully, because of this debate, the predator will think twice before preying on someone who is vulnerable. I doubt if someone will come to me with that intention because they will know that I will say, 'To hell with you.' I think it is time that we speak up."

Actor Zarrar Khan further shared his views on the ban, "I believe that the censor board shouldn't ban certain kinds of topics. They should support women's empowerment.

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He added, "The best part is that the media supported us during our battle with the censor board. This movie is not against anything but we are glad that it has now released everywhere."

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