Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali originally conceived his now-hit Netflix series Heeramandi as a film with Pakistani stars Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan 18 years ago. However, the project did not come to fruition due to political tensions over casting Pakistani actors in Indian films. In a recent interview, Mahira shared how she was approached for the project and recalled her first meeting with Bhansali, during which he asked her to wipe her lipstick.

“I love Sanjay Leela Bhansali, and I’ve been the biggest fan of his work. It was 15 years ago; I went to a wedding because it was my childhood friend’s wedding, and she was married to an Indian We were in Bombay, and he (Sanjay Leela Bhansali) was looking for a Pakistani actress,” Mahira said. BBC Asian Network.

He further added, “Hats off to Moeen Baig, who came up with this concept. He was sitting with Rizwan Baig, a designer, and they were discussing how they couldn’t find a girl. My friend from Mumbai was at his wedding. Went to Pakistan to find the couple, which was being made by Rizwan Baig, and they said they were looking for a girl from Pakistan for something, so my friend Sharmin said, ‘Have you seen Mahira ?VJ. So, without telling me, she took me to meet him.”

Mahira did a photoshoot in the studio in white salwar-kameez and the person present in the studio called her to India to meet Bhansali. Mahira, who wanted to start her acting career, came to India with the desire to act in a film with Shahrukh Khan.

In India, Moeen Baig told Mahira that Bhansali wanted to meet her. But before meeting the filmmaker, she got a no-makeup photoshoot done because Bhansali wanted her natural look.

Recalling her meeting with Bhansali, Mahira shared, “What a guy he is! Very creative and talented. He said, ‘Can you wipe off your lipstick?’ I said, ‘I’m not wearing any lipstick.’ So, he said, ‘Erase it,’ and I said, ‘Wow.’ At that time, he was very excited that I could be a part of it, and it was a film at that time, due to political problems. “Couldn’t make it work.”

Mahira also remembered that on the same night of their meeting, she had called Bhansali and told him the truth about her marriage.

“At that time, the thing was ‘don’t tell him you are married’. That night, I couldn’t sleep. I was worried and couldn’t sleep. So, I told Moin Baig that I want Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s number Because I wanted to tell him I was married, he said, ‘Why?’ I said, ‘Because this is the dream I’ve wanted to be an actor all my life, and I can’t start it with a lie.’ So, I called him and told him this, and he said, ‘Ah, OK, don’t worry.’ The audition was for a piece of Mughal-e-Azam, and come back, and then the same thing happened.”

At the Los Angeles premiere of Heeramandi in May, Bhansali revealed that he had The idea of ​​making Hiramandi as a film came to light 18 years ago. He said, “This was 18 years ago, so at one point of time, it was Rekha ji, Kareena (Kapoor Khan) and Rani Mukherjee. Then it changed to another cast; then it changed to another cast.”

Amid a sense of shock in the audience, the filmmaker further added, “It was supposed to be a film. At one point, it also had Pakistani actors Mahira Khan, then Fawad Khan and Imran Abbas. But then all that changed.”

Heeramandi finally released in May this year. It starred Manisha Koirala, Sonakshi Sinha, Richa Chadha, Aditi Rao Hydari, Sharmin Sehgal, Taha Shah, Fardeen Khan and Shekhar Suman among others.