Dubai
It was a scorching 48 degrees outside when the entire media gathered to meet and greet the Pakistani stars who were in town to give a sneak preview of one of the most anticipated films of the year, Bin Roye. When Mahira Khan entered
Instep: It’s your third venture with Momina after Humsafar, Sher-e-Zaat and Sadqay Tumharay. When will other production houses get lucky?
Mahira: I am a creature of comfort, I like being around people with whom I have an association and I share a comfort zone with. It just makes work much more easier and fun. You will not believe this but for the last ten years, I am travelling with the same pillow wherever I go. But I would like to say that even if the production house is the same, the experience of each project has been different. Plus, the roles I have done are very different from each other.
Instep: How was Humayun Saeed as a co-star?
Mahira: Humayun has been an excellent co-star. Not many people remember but I was paired against him in my debut serial Neeyat in 2011. Things have changed since then. I have changed as an actor too. I feel more in control. And now we have become so comfortable with each other that if we are asked to do a scene right now, I know we can do it just the right way without even discussing it. The chemistry between the two characters is amazing. He has been extremely supportive throughout.
Instep: Tell us something more about your character Sabah, and how is she different from Khirad?
Mahira: Khirad was a woman of substance. She carried her head on strong shoulders and was very dignified. Sabah on the other hand is extremely immature who doesn’t take life seriously and is all heart. She is carefree whereas Khirad was very responsible and made some really strong decisions and stood by it. If you ask me which character is closer to me then I will pick Khirad any day.
Instep: So does Sabah get into trouble because of her casual attitude?
Mahira: Yes she does, big time. She pays a very heavy price in the film. In fact, there is my favourite scene from the film where I tell Humayun that ‘Aap ne mera bohat bara nuqsaan kar diya’; that scene is the soul of the film.
Instep: There were some rumors that while shooting the film in Karachi, the crew encountered some supernatural activities. Is it true?
Mahira: Yes it is true. And I was the first one to observe that. We were shooting in one of very old locations in Karachi. Even though it looked haunted and felt haunted, we were having so much fun so it didn’t matter much. One night I was giving a shot when I heard a loud scream. I checked with Momina and other actors if they also heard any sound but they did not. I discarded that, thought for a while, but after the shot was cut, the sound guy came to me and said he heard it too. A tea boy at the set also got slapped hard by the unexplained force. There were ‘J. I. N.N’ on the set. (She spelled it because she believed if you say the word, they appear. She actually thought they will appear in Dubai as well). Then a Quran khwaani was arranged on the location and then I believe we got rid of the ghosts.
Instep: Bin Roye is a novel adaptation. Did you read the novel Bin Roye Aanso before your started shooting and did it help in the process?
Mahira: You know I hadn’t read the script for Humsafar, I read it afterwards. But for Bin Roye, I read the script at least five times to get the character right. I also think that if your director knows the character and if you have understood the essence of the story then you bring a fresh take to a character. The challenge with novel adaptation is that you are always compared to the character in the novel and whether you have justified it or you surpassed it. But on the positive side, it gives you a reference point and then you take it forward through your own understanding of the character.
Instep: What projects are in pipeline and what does the next year look like?
Mahira: You are going to see me for the next three Eids for sure. After Bin Roye, Ho Mann Jahan directed by Asim Raza is all set to be released on Eid ul Azha and next Eid 2016 is Raees. So it’s quite a roller coaster ride. It is good that my projects are spread out over a longer period.
Instep: You are currently shooting with Shahrukh Khan for Raees, how is the overall experience?
Mahira: Yes I have completed my first schedule of the film. I shall be back in India in October. I cannot speak much about my role in Raees at the moment as the time is not right. But all I can say for Shahrukh is that I feel honoured to be working with him and it’s a great learning experience. He is extremely professional and is a pleasure to work with.
Instep: We are sure you will be flooded with offers once your film releases in India. What is your long term commitment to Pakistani cinema and television?
Mahira: It is my motherland and I belong here. Whatever I am today, I am because of Pakistan. I am always up for projects that will bring respect and value to this industry. I am extremely proud of the fact that I was able to contribute to the revival of our cinema at the time when it is most needed and I must thank MD Productions for that. When the time will be good and we will have films coming out regularly, then it is too easy to go with the flow. But it takes courage to come up with a film of this magnitude in these tough times.
Instep: Has there been a role in recent time which has impressed you so much that you felt like doing it yourself?
Mahira: I think it has to be Aalia’s character in Highway.
Instep: Three things that you don’t leave your home without?
Mahira: My phone, my bag and my bag has the third thing in it, actually it has everything.
Instep: Momina mentioned that ‘The team gave everything they had to this film’. What does Bin Roye mean to you?
Mahira: To me, Bin Roye is two years of my life; day and night. That’s really what it is. If anyone wants to know how two years of my life look on screen, they should watch Bin Roye. I have given my sweat and tears to this film. The one thing that I loved was the fact that everyone on set was one big family, however bad the day was, however tough the time was we all wanted to give our best and wanted to reach the finish line. Maza boht aaya! Everyone’s association with the project is very emotional and the business is secondary to all of us. Whether it runs in one cinema or fifty, I feel people will enjoy it. Our product is good and hopefully people will love the film because we have made it with a lot of love.