Mahira grows into her stardom
When Mahira Khan sits down for an interview, she makes it adequately evident that she is indeed a star, a performer who never fails to deliver. Her recent appearance on Excuse Me with Ahmad Ali Butt felt less like a Q&A and more like a rollercoaster ride through memories, mistakes, men and films.From defending Fawad Khan's dance moves to calling Nadeem Baig an "addiction," Mahira's hour and a half-long tell-all speaks to her endless charm and candour.
"I felt like a child again," Mahira recalled being on the set of Love Guru, her eyes gleaming. "I had the time of my life."
After years of near misses and misfires — she famously said no to Punjab Nahi Jaungi and turned down a few other Nadeem Baig projects — Love Guru is her long-awaited collaboration with Pakistan's blockbuster director. "Nadeem Baig is an addiction," she confessed. "I wish I'd worked with him earlier."
Turns out, it was worth the wait. "I was doing a dance with Nadeem at one point. I couldn't even understand what he was saying, but we just vibed," she said about her chemistry with the director.
And while Mahira has always been known as an actor's actor, she was clear: it's directors who fascinate her. "I'm very amused by directors. Every director has their own unique personality," she mused. "Actors don't really do it for me. But directors, I fall in love with them."
The brotherhood of blockbusters
Mahira had nothing but praise for her co-star Humayun Saeed. "There's no one like him. He's generous, secure, and just has a big heart," she said. "He'll give the best line to his co-actor and say, 'It's your scene, speak now.'"
But it wasn't just Humayun who got love. Her long-time collaborator Fawad as well as Fahad Mustafa and Bilal Ashraf, Mahira's favourite trio, were all in the mix.
"I call Bilal 'Billu Bhai.' Every time I needed him, I'd call him and he'd show up." she smiled. "Fahad, on the other hand, is a fantastic dancer. I love dancing with him." On the other hand, Fawad, she candidly dubbed a "terrible dancer." While the duo's chemistry has delighted fans for years, Mahira revealed an equally intimate off-screen dynamic. "What I cherish about Fawad is those moments when he's true to himself. That's rare. I've always protected that side of him."
Marriage and motherhood
Mahira also opened up about her marriage and the fears that preceded it. "I was scared," she admitted. "Not of love, but of how it would affect Azlan. I chose to leave a marriage once. I didn't want my son to go through that again."
It was Azlan who gave her the green light. "He said, 'Mama, what's wrong with you?' That's when I knew it was time."
Now, Mahira is happily married to businessman Saleem Karim and glowing with gratitude. "Azlan loves him for his own reasons, not just because I do."
Regardless of good and bad times, the star's faith in the universe remains unshaken. "I tell Azlan all the time: imagine, pray, and work hard for it. I'm a living example of manifestation," Mahira said, grinning. "I even wrote letters to the love of my life and became his Zaalima! But remember, every dream has a price."
Calling out nonsense
Mahira acknowledged that she should have addressed her differences with Khalil privately, saying, "He said that I should have called him. He's right." Following the widely publicised dispute between the two, the actor's mother also suggested the matter could have been handled more discreetly, citing Khalil's seniority. Still, Mahira maintained that the writer's remarks were unacceptable. "What he said was wrong," she said. "And in our industry, we only call people out when we have nothing to lose. That's not okay I can separate the artist from the man. And I have done that."
Mahira and Khalil had a falling out after the writer verbally attacked human rights activist Marvi Sirmed on live television over her feminist views in 2020. Khalil took a hardline stance on the matter and repeatedly said he would neither forgive nor forget Mahira Khan's "cheap" tweet criticizing him. He often voiced his disappointment, arguing that instead of posting publicly, Mahira should have reached out to him privately to share her concerns.
As for years of industry trolling, the star recalled regaining her confidence with age. "I used to feel guilty. Like I didn't deserve success. But now, I don't let it get to me. I actually believe that if people just meet me once, they'll be mesmerised," she deadpanned.
Roots in Rampur
Offering rare glimpses into her upbringing, the star spoke about her father, a double-MBA hippie who once lived on a Colombian island, carved wood, and played the flute. "He went to Woodstock in '69!" she said. "He was all about free love."
On the other hand, her mother was a pioneering remedial teacher who fought to support children with autism and dyslexia. "She was one of the first to do it in our school. I'm so proud of her."
Though her parents' marriage was rocky, Mahira's childhood was filled with music, cousins, and laughter. "I remember my dad playing No Woman No Cry during fights. There was chaos, but there was also love."
When asked what's next, Mahira laughed: "I don't plan. I never have. My career's has been entirely intuitive." She wants to act more, direct soon, and maybe, just maybe, go back to school. "But only for three months. That's my limit," she quipped. The actor closed the podcast with her usual blend of honesty and sparkle: "I just want to do a lot more. And I want to enjoy it while it's happening because it never comes back."
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19 hours ago
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We must dig deep to figure out someone's intentions'
In an interview with Ambreen Fatima, fashion designer Hassan Sheheryar Yasin (HSY) shared his views on the vitriol that actors like Fawad Khan and Hania Aamir received for not condemning India's war crimes as strongly as their fans hoped they would. "The eyes are the windows to a man's soul. One must dig deep to figure out what someone's actual mindset and intentions are," HSY said. "I know Fawad very well, and I know how much of a die-hard Pakistani he truly is. He's my friend." The designer also added Mahira Khan to his observation. "Mahira, another friend of mine, is devoted to Pakistan. I know how much she works to promote the Pakistani sentiment and does what she can for those who cannot raise their own voices." Bringing up yet another showbiz friend, he continued, "Hania is a relatively recent entry in the industry. I've seen her since the beginning of her career. I've also worked with her. We're friends and we share mutuals. Hania is very pro-Pakistan." HSY reckoned that the criticism was fuelled by a collective anger or passion that netizens have for showbiz. "Those watching must believe that they are a part of a celebrity's life, and rightfully so because they are involved in everything, be it the movies or the promotions," he acknowledged. HSY reasoned that, perhaps, the mentioned stars weren't able to express themselves as strongly as their fans were hoping they would. "I can't say anything about that because your opinions are valid," he said. "But I can vouch for my friends and safely say that they didn't intend to cause any hurt." The designer added that everyone can speculate as much as they want, but they won't have the answers to everything. In the same way, he can speak about Fawad at a friend's capacity, nothing less or more. "I am aware of the public's disapproval of his statement," HSY said. "Because he is my friend, I'll share my perception of him. But neither has anyone paid me to do so nor is this benefitting me in any way. HSY is going to remain HSY. But I can uplift someone else's truth because that's the right thing to do." He, however, reiterated that public criticisms weren't misplaced. "Yes, the public's belief that celebrities should confidently speak out is valid. And we are the ones who should be taking that stand because every drop counts and makes one Pakistan, which is not a small thing. So wherever I am qualified to talk about Pakistan, I try to do so to the best of my abilities," he vowed. What the stars said Following India's aerial attack on Pakistani civilians last month, multiple local celebrities took to social media to condemn the aggression, stand in solidarity with the victims, and call out Indian celebrities who celebrated the loss of lives in Pakistan. This included Mahira, who decried India's "war and hate rhetoric" and asserted that the Indian entertainment industry was claiming victory in fear-induced silence. "To me, that silence is your greatest defeat. You attack cities in the middle of the night and call it a victory? Shame on you," she said. Fawad, meanwhile, offered his deepest condolences to those injured and killed in "this shameful attack". Adding a prayer for the deceased and the bereaved, he said, "A respectful request to all: stop stoking the flames with rabble-rousing words. It's not worth the lives of innocent people. May better sense prevail, InshaAllah. Pakistan Zindabad!" Joining the chorus, Hania rued India's aggression with a heavy heart. "A child is gone. Families are shattered. And for what? This is not how you protect anyone. This is cruelty - plain and simple. You don't get to bomb innocent people and call it a strategy. This isn't strength. This is shameful. This is cowardly. And we see you." Netizens criticised some of the artists for not outright naming India as the aggressor and upholding peaceful sentiments while Indian artists stood by their war-mongering narrative.
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3 days ago
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Local hero, Netflix star
If there is any showbiz star who knows a thing or two about representing Pakistan internationally through his line of work, it is Humayun Saeed. Or, as viewers abroad may call him, Dr Hasnat in Season 5 of Netflix royal drama The Crown. But although his reputation as an A-lister is cemented in his home country, Humayun stressed in an interview on YouTube channel Filme Shilmy that during his time on The Crown, he felt the weight of representing Pakistan before the eyes of the rest of the world. "Representation is so important whenever we have to go outside our country," mused the star, who made his post-Crown comeback last year with a lead role in Gentleman after having been away from screens for nearly two years. "Take The Crown. That character was an important one, and I gave it my all. I took a lot of time with it, and it was at the forefront of my mind that the whole world would be watching this." Despite the pressure of global expectations and the eyes of the world, however, the actor praised the work environment and the professionalism of his colleagues, whom he credited for going the extra mile to ensure his comfort. "There was pressure, but I'm glad that the people who worked with me were very good," noted Humayun. They knew I had come from another country and was working in another language." Humayun went on to hint, however, that professionalism is a two-way street. "I gave it my all, and this is where our respect comes from – the work ethic we have when we go elsewhere," he pointed out. Lauding, in turn, the work ethic of those on set, the actor continued, "I saw that everything was happening on time, everyone was punctual and working quietly, and everyone's priority was to complete the work every day." Stopping just short of commenting on punctuality and efficiency on sets in Pakistan, Humayun went on to concede, "Of course, we have that here as well, but maybe we make some mistakes. But the thing is, they do not make those mistakes." What's in a name? Alongside his Bin Roye co-star, Mahira Khan, Humayun is currently in the throes of promoting his upcoming Eidul Azha romantic comedy Love Guru. In the same interview, Humayun recalled that he had been warned to refrain from being in any sort of offering going by that particular name, at the risk of being tainted by association after a previous film also called Love Guru had flopped. "There used to be a film that wasn't very good called Love Guru, and someone told me I shouldn't take on this particular film – but our film is good!" he insisted with conviction. Brushing aside the importance of the name of a production, Humayun maintained, "People are interested in films. If you make a good movie, and if people like it, then they start to like the name as well!" And of course, the star also has the evidence to back up his beliefs about films and their respective names. "I made a movie called Punjab Nahi Jaungi, and everyone said, 'What kind of name is this? This is not a good name for a film!' But then when that film became a hit, everyone would say that it was because it had a catchy name!" In other words: any title is only as good as the film itself. "When a film is good, the name is also a hit," concluded Humayun firmly. Delving deeper into the film itself and giving insight into his performance, the star discussed the art of delivering his lines when the viewers are in on a secret, but the characters are in the dark. "The shades of this character – sometimes I don't always understand how to talk like him, because I myself don't talk like that," he admitted. "But I would go to [director Nadeem Baig] and he would guide me and advise me about the timing. So I would copy Nadeem! The thing is, this film doesn't have that much comedy. I needed to add a few nuances so that the characters can't tell that he is lying, but the audience can." Mahira's personal touch Sitting alongside Humayun, fellow A-lister and Love Guru leading lady Mahira, known for picking up non-conformist roles, had her own thoughts on what makes her character tick and how she brought shades of herself to the part. "The first time you read a script, you read it as you," began Mahira. "And then you pick on things in the script. And the director says, 'This is not you, this is a character!'" Admitting that it isn't always practical to view a character through one's own lens, Mahira added "Sometimes it's not needed, sometimes it's not the character, and you have to surrender to it." When it comes to Love Guru itself, however, Mahira is adamant that this her onscreen persona is one that audiences can get behind and fall in love with – and yes, this time, she was able to convince director Nadeem to view the role through her own lens to add richness and subtlety to her character. "In this film, she is a girl of today," explained Mahira. "She is a true blue feminist and someone who is always on the right side of the spectrum. I would go to Nadeem and say, 'She wouldn't say this about another girl!' And he would agree and say, 'You're right, let's change it.' So yes, I do bring this to the table." Looking back on her former roles, Mahira mused that she is now in a place where she does not feel she owes it to herself to take on characters carrying an important message, as opposed to the relatively "easy-breezy" lighter character she has taken on board in Love Guru. "When I was younger, I was so hell bent on just doing that," she recalled. "I remember I had a few choices and I went for Verna, because I felt the subject was so important and I needed to be a part of it. At that time, even though I was offered roles that were easy breezy, I thought, 'No, I have to do this first.'" Now, however, Mahira feels unshackled from her own expectations. "I've had a kind of switch," she affirmed. "If I don't do it now, then when will I do it? But I don't look at it that way. if you know what I mean. I don't think, 'Oh this is easy breezy, and this is heavy'. Now it's just about what attracts me and what is offered to me." Will viewers find Mahira's easy-breezy character as palatable as the woman bringing her to life? There is not long to go before we find out.
Express Tribune
7 days ago
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Mahira grows into her stardom
When Mahira Khan sits down for an interview, she makes it adequately evident that she is indeed a star, a performer who never fails to deliver. Her recent appearance on Excuse Me with Ahmad Ali Butt felt less like a Q&A and more like a rollercoaster ride through memories, mistakes, men and defending Fawad Khan's dance moves to calling Nadeem Baig an "addiction," Mahira's hour and a half-long tell-all speaks to her endless charm and candour. "I felt like a child again," Mahira recalled being on the set of Love Guru, her eyes gleaming. "I had the time of my life." After years of near misses and misfires — she famously said no to Punjab Nahi Jaungi and turned down a few other Nadeem Baig projects — Love Guru is her long-awaited collaboration with Pakistan's blockbuster director. "Nadeem Baig is an addiction," she confessed. "I wish I'd worked with him earlier." Turns out, it was worth the wait. "I was doing a dance with Nadeem at one point. I couldn't even understand what he was saying, but we just vibed," she said about her chemistry with the director. And while Mahira has always been known as an actor's actor, she was clear: it's directors who fascinate her. "I'm very amused by directors. Every director has their own unique personality," she mused. "Actors don't really do it for me. But directors, I fall in love with them." The brotherhood of blockbusters Mahira had nothing but praise for her co-star Humayun Saeed. "There's no one like him. He's generous, secure, and just has a big heart," she said. "He'll give the best line to his co-actor and say, 'It's your scene, speak now.'" But it wasn't just Humayun who got love. Her long-time collaborator Fawad as well as Fahad Mustafa and Bilal Ashraf, Mahira's favourite trio, were all in the mix. "I call Bilal 'Billu Bhai.' Every time I needed him, I'd call him and he'd show up." she smiled. "Fahad, on the other hand, is a fantastic dancer. I love dancing with him." On the other hand, Fawad, she candidly dubbed a "terrible dancer." While the duo's chemistry has delighted fans for years, Mahira revealed an equally intimate off-screen dynamic. "What I cherish about Fawad is those moments when he's true to himself. That's rare. I've always protected that side of him." Marriage and motherhood Mahira also opened up about her marriage and the fears that preceded it. "I was scared," she admitted. "Not of love, but of how it would affect Azlan. I chose to leave a marriage once. I didn't want my son to go through that again." It was Azlan who gave her the green light. "He said, 'Mama, what's wrong with you?' That's when I knew it was time." Now, Mahira is happily married to businessman Saleem Karim and glowing with gratitude. "Azlan loves him for his own reasons, not just because I do." Regardless of good and bad times, the star's faith in the universe remains unshaken. "I tell Azlan all the time: imagine, pray, and work hard for it. I'm a living example of manifestation," Mahira said, grinning. "I even wrote letters to the love of my life and became his Zaalima! But remember, every dream has a price." Calling out nonsense Mahira acknowledged that she should have addressed her differences with Khalil privately, saying, "He said that I should have called him. He's right." Following the widely publicised dispute between the two, the actor's mother also suggested the matter could have been handled more discreetly, citing Khalil's seniority. Still, Mahira maintained that the writer's remarks were unacceptable. "What he said was wrong," she said. "And in our industry, we only call people out when we have nothing to lose. That's not okay I can separate the artist from the man. And I have done that." Mahira and Khalil had a falling out after the writer verbally attacked human rights activist Marvi Sirmed on live television over her feminist views in 2020. Khalil took a hardline stance on the matter and repeatedly said he would neither forgive nor forget Mahira Khan's "cheap" tweet criticizing him. He often voiced his disappointment, arguing that instead of posting publicly, Mahira should have reached out to him privately to share her concerns. As for years of industry trolling, the star recalled regaining her confidence with age. "I used to feel guilty. Like I didn't deserve success. But now, I don't let it get to me. I actually believe that if people just meet me once, they'll be mesmerised," she deadpanned. Roots in Rampur Offering rare glimpses into her upbringing, the star spoke about her father, a double-MBA hippie who once lived on a Colombian island, carved wood, and played the flute. "He went to Woodstock in '69!" she said. "He was all about free love." On the other hand, her mother was a pioneering remedial teacher who fought to support children with autism and dyslexia. "She was one of the first to do it in our school. I'm so proud of her." Though her parents' marriage was rocky, Mahira's childhood was filled with music, cousins, and laughter. "I remember my dad playing No Woman No Cry during fights. There was chaos, but there was also love." When asked what's next, Mahira laughed: "I don't plan. I never have. My career's has been entirely intuitive." She wants to act more, direct soon, and maybe, just maybe, go back to school. "But only for three months. That's my limit," she quipped. The actor closed the podcast with her usual blend of honesty and sparkle: "I just want to do a lot more. And I want to enjoy it while it's happening because it never comes back."
