Mahira: Not the first choice for SRK's Raees!

Written By Nayandeep Rakshit | Updated: Jan 20, 2016, 06:20 AM IST

Huma Qureshi was approached for Raees

Shah Rukh Khan's one-minute Raees teaser has set the ball rolling for the film already and the makers are planning to release another teaser sometime soon. That will also give an insight into the world of Raees and introduce the other characters of the film, including Mahira's and Nawazuddin's.

Mahira grabbed eyeballs once she was finalised as the film's leading lady. But did you know she wasn't the first choice for the film? A source tells us, "The film is based in the backdrop of the Muslim ghetto in Gujarat and Raees is essentially a story of this man who becomes powerful. The heroine's role is also a prominent one - that of SRK's wife, a Muslim woman."

Although Mahira has bagged the film, she wasn't the first choice for the film. Who did the makers approach first? The source reveals, "Huma Qureshi. They thought Huma would fit the bill and also they wanted a fresh pairing of sorts. But then, they got Mahira on board because the character required the actress to have a certain kind of mannerism and lingo and being a Pakistani, Mahira totally nailed it."

We hear that SRK and Mahira have filmed a heavy dance sequence for the film and King Khan is quite pleased with the result.