But the film didn’t live up to the hype and is today seen as a failure. Mahira Khan, a Pakistani actress who made her Bollywood debut, played a significant role in the movie.
However, why was Mahira paired with Shah Rukh Khan? Rahul Dholakia, the director, explained the fascinating backstory of this choice.
Rahul Dholakia was looking for a female protagonist who could portray a Muslim girl from the 1980s, someone in her 30s who could speak Hindi well and add a hint of Urdu. Popular Bollywood actresses like Kareena Kapoor, Anushka Sharma, and Deepika Padukone were taken into consideration, but they weren’t suitable for the part or were too costly.
Although they weren’t a good fit for the role, other actresses including Sonam Kapoor and Katrina Kaif were also considered.
