Pakistani actress Mahira Khan not only enchanted the audience in her country with her powerful yet sensitive performance in TV series Humsafar, but also in India. The actress says if she has to choose between Bollywood and Pakistan it will always be the latter.
“If I have to choose between a Bollywood film and Pakistan film, it may sound cliched but I will go with the script first. And if both the scripts are equally good, then I will choose a Pakistan film,” she said in a group interview.
“Pakistani cinema needs us badly and I am ready to do anything for it. I believe the new generation needs to step up and come out. I need to give back to that country,” she added.
The actress also expressed optimism about the growth of cinema in Pakistan and thinks the one drawback that was holding the industry back has been eliminated.
“In the next 10 years you will see a change in Pakistani cinema. We will not be trading drama and film but film and film. There was one drawback, and that was people were not making films and that’s not there now. People are coming back to the country after studying filmmaking abroad and putting in their money and making movies,” she said.
“The void has been filled. Right before I left, I had to say no to a film because I am doing another film. It is a rare thing in Pakistan,” she added.
Despite the successful run of the show on Zindagi channel, the actress has no plans to enter Indian television.
“I can’t work in Indian serials as they are too long... they run for years,” she said.
There were rumours of Khan debuting on the big screen with actor Ranveer Singh. The actress quashed the rumours.
“I have not thought about Bollywood much. I think all the guys are really good but if I have to pick one it would be Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt amongst the girl’s brigade,” Khan said.
The actress, who is married to Ali Askari and has a son, says she has to cut down her work to balance it with her home life.
“I am very conscious of the time I spend outside. Hence in order to manage the role of wife and mother, I deprive my fans from constant back to back serials,” the actress said.
Acting is not the only thing that attracts Khan. She says she also wants to try her hand at production.
“I would love to do production despite knowing it is a big headache. I want to produce a short film. I have not zeroed in on the theme but I like the idea of a boy-meets-girl concept,” Khan said.
Khan has crossed the border and won many hearts in the process. The one thing that is evident in all her replies is the similarity between the neighbouring countries.
“Everything is the same. I believe the thing that connects us is our language. If I am outside and hear a voice which is like me there is an instant connect. And I feel that is present between both the countries,” she said.
