Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra has found his Sahibaan for his love tale Mirza Sahibaan in Saiyami Kher, niece of talented actress Tanvi Azmi and granddaughter of Usha Kiran.
The director says Kher was not chosen for her illustrious acting lineage but that he chose her after months of intensive searching.
“We’ve selected Saiyami for her ability to project the delicacy, strength, turmoil and resolve of the character. Just like Harshvardhan [Kapoor], it didn’t matter where Saiyami came from. She had to prove herself capable of carrying off the character,” said Mehra.
Mirza Sahibaan will also mark the debut of Anil Kapoor’s son Harshvardhan, who has been cast as Mirza.
Mehra confesses the decision to cast Sahibaan wasn’t easy.
“We searched for our Sahibaan for months. We finally shortlisted three girls, all strong possibilities as being the final choice. We put all three under rigorous training. That Saiyami finally got the role was a matter of just a slight edge.
“All three were almost equally competent. And I know the other two girls are also going to be major talents in our cinema,” he said.
Kher’s aunts, Tanvi Azmi and Shabana Azmi, seemed unaware that their neice had been finalised for the coveted part opposite Harshvardhan.
“I knew she was under consideration. But I wasn’t aware she has been confirmed. That’s terrific news,” said Tanve.
Kher has been searching for the right break in Bollywood for two years now.
She did a Telugu film entitled “Rey with Ramcharan Teja’s nephew Sai Dharam. But Mehra’s film is her break into the big leagues.
