SRK helps Mahira Khan “grow as an actor”

Rahul Dholakia directed ‘Raees’ will see Mahira Khan, popular Pakistani actress, make her Bollywood debut. She has recently said that she was told that she has grown as an actor because of co-star Shah Rukh Khan.

Talking in an interview with NDTV, the actress said, “I got to learn so much from Mr Shah Rukh Khan, like actually got to learn from him. I realized this when I came back. I came back and I shot for a song in Ho Mann Jahaan and my director was like, ‘What has happened to you’. He actually said that ‘you’ve shed a layer. You’ve grown as an actor.’ And I think it’s because I moved out of my comfort zone. At that time you don’t realise it because it’s happening so fast. But when you come back you realise, ‘Oh, I’ve learnt something’.”

She also stated, “I don’t know how people will take to me over there (Bollywood). But it was a very different experience. I went there like a sponge. I was just taking it all in. I didn’t want to step in on anybody’s toes. Because here, I’m very nosy. I’m in everybody’s space and job. And everyone warned me not to do this there. So I just sat, listened to them. I tried to match Mr Khan. I couldn’t, but I tried to make it better”.

She spoke about the transition between television and cinema, “I don’t find it different. There’s a camera, there are people and there’s a director, there’s a script. So I don’t find it any different. But yes, when I did Bin Roye (which I did while shooting for a drama) and then I did Asim Raza’s (director) film – Ho Mann Jahaan – then I realized that there is a difference. And the difference is that it is larger than life”.

‘Raees’ will release in 2016 and is an Excel Entertainment production.