Mahira Khan doesn't think she's open to working in Bollywood anymore
Actor Mahira Khan, who recently starred in the ISPR drama Aik Hai Nigar as the titular character, and is currently on TV as Mehreen in the highly popular yet equally controversial Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay, sat down for an interview with a local publication to shed light on her family, work at home and abroad, as well as how she maintains the delicate balance between her public and private life.
Speaking about her reluctance to speak about personal issues, Mahira shared that she does not feel the need to air out private matters. The actor explained, “I have fallen many times. Sometimes, it is an apparent fall. Which is when the public is also part of the people who witness it.”
The Humsafar star conctinued, “The whole world waited for Shoaib Mansoor and Mahira Khan’s Verna, and it bombed. Or some other stuff comes out and the whole world ends up looking at you. And then there are very personal falls which people can’t see. Stuff I never talk about. Even if I want to talk about them I feel like, what can I give or what good will come out of me talking about very serious personal issues or personal problems that I have gone through? Maybe, one day, in a book I can write about them. Right now, I am not that brave.”
Speaking about the difficulties of being consistent with projects while being a mother, Mahira shared that she has ample support from her ex-husband and his family when it comes to raising her son Azlan. “The fact is that his father and his family, as well as my family, we are completely on the same page when it comes to Azlan. In fact, even when it comes to me,” revealed the actor.
She elaborated further, “When an interview of mine comes out, Azlan’s grandfather will call me. We’re very close to them, even now. I grew up in their home. It takes work and swallowing your pride at times. It takes trying to understand the other people and other person, and then, for your child’s sake, you do it. If you’re lucky and the people on both sides are good and they are looking at the child’s wellbeing and true happiness, then they’ll work for it.”
However, for Mahira, the road to normalcy has not been an easy one. She shared, “It was difficult. I don’t think I fully deal with anything. And that is something I have to work on this year.”
Shedding light on her difficulties dealing with such personal issues, Mahira added, “Whatever traumas you have gone through in life, talking about myself, I have never really dealt with them. I’d go to work, come home, take care of Azlaan. Never have I ever sat down and thought, ‘What is happening to me?’ I didn’t get the opportunity to breakdown and grieve or to heal. I didn’t give it to myself.”
On how her avoidance of issues has physically manifested as health issues, the Bin Roye actor shared, “We think we forget, but your body stores all the trauma. So, you remember it. I’ve developed a muscular issue recently, and I’m dead sure it’s because of this. My body said, ‘You’re not going to deal with it, so I am dealing with it and asking for help.’ I think therapy is very important, and I have started recently.”
When asked if it is easy to fall in love again, given the actor’s rumoured relationship, Mahira said, “It’s scary. [Wouldn’t] you feel scared?”
Moving on to the work front, Mahira revealed that she does not think she is interested in working in Indian projects anymore. While the actor shared that she will have to give some thought to another project with Shah Rukh Khan, with whom she starred in the Bollywood film Raees, she is no longer open to taking on work with other Indian co-stars.
"You can see that there are webseries being made right now as well. But, even when I do the smallest thing for an Indian channel, there’s such a reaction there. I don’t know why they’re okay with all other actors working in their TV shows and series, but not me. When there’s a reaction there, there’s a reaction here as well,” shared the actor.
She elaborated further, “What should I do? If I want to do something different, it’s happening on that side. Even though we’re making it, an Indian channel is buying it. That is where I find it all so confusing. Think about it, if we want to make different and brave content, or content that a director or actor wants, where are we making that? On an Indian platform.”
"I thought Churails was brilliant, as well as Ek Jhooti Si Love Story, but I wish we were making them for a platform that is here. Our movies cannot air over there, but our actors and series can be on their platforms?” asked Mahira.
Speaking about her latest drama Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay, which has received flak online for seemingly glorifying abusive relationships, Mahira shared that the script is building up to make a certain point. “There’s a sanctity of the script that I believe in,” she asserted, adding, “There is a reason it is written the way it is written. Of course, I agree that there are some things, like I said, why should we go so much into the restrictions [Aswad imposes on Mehreen]? You’ll end up hating Aswad so much that you’ll ask yourself whether you can forgive him. So, that’s also a big part of the script. This question.”
On the expectations attached to her by the audience, Mahira shared, “The first time I was working with Nina Kashif, she said to me, ‘It’s very difficult working with you. You have to be very careful.’ When I asked why she said, ‘Look at the stuff that’s on TV but they’re picking Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay, and it’s only because it has you.”
She explained, “I tell them I’ll say what they want, but my fans and the general public expects something different from me and puts me on the spot, pinpointing things that I have said. A lot of it has to do with me and the expectations that are attached to a project that has me, unfortunately or fortunately. But, I agree, this abuse should be resolved.”