Pakistani actress Mahira Khan, who is known for her television show "Humsafar", is set to romance the badshah of Bollywood Shah Rukh Khan.
After her "Humsafar" co-star Fawad Khan, Mahira will now make her Bollywood debut. The actress has been roped in for Shah Rukh starrer "Raees", according to reports.
There were speculations that Sonam Kapoor, Kriti Sanon or Parineeti Chopra would romance SRK, but looks like the Pakistani beauty bagged the project.
According to Mumbai Mirror, the makers of the film had planned to sign in an international face instead of a Bollywood actress and thus Mahira got the female lead role.
"She plays SRK's wife in the film. He's a gangster based in Gujarat while Nawazuddin Siddiqui is the cop who traps him in Mumbai. It's a complex role and both the film's director Rahul Dholakia and producers, Ritesh Sidhwani and Farhan Akhtar, believe she is perfect for the part," Mirror quoted a source as saying.
Mahira discussed the project with the makers when she was in Mumbai last month. However, the makers are yet to make an official announcement on the leading lady.
Earlier, Ritesh Sidhwani, the producer of the film, confirmed that Nawazuddin Siddiqui has replaced Farhan Akhtar and the film will go on floors in February 2015.
"Yes, it is Shah Rukh and Nawaz now. With the shooting pushed from December 2014 to February 2015, the dates clashed with Farhan's Rock On 2 schedule," Mumbai Mirror quoted Sidhwani as saying
Meanwhile, Mahira gained recognition in India with her television show "Humsafar", which airs on Zindagi channel. "Humsafar" features Pakistani heartthrob Fawad and Mahira in the lead roles.
