Director Rahul Dholakia has revealed the full story behind Mahira Khan’s casting in the 2017 Bollywood film Raees, opposite Shah Rukh Khan. In a recent interview, Dholakia disclosed that it was a recommendation from Gauri Khan’s mother that ultimately led to Mahira landing the role of Aasiya, after several top Bollywood stars were considered but ruled out.

Speaking with casting director Mukesh Chhabra in a conversation for Mashable India, Dholakia said that for the character of Aasiya, they needed an actress in her 30s who could convey innocence and fluently speak Hindi, ideally with an Urdu accent, to fit the setting of the 1980s. Several prominent Bollywood actresses were considered, including Kareena Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, and Anushka Sharma, but they either turned down the role due to its smaller size or were too expensive for the film’s budget.

The director then shared how the solution came from an unexpected source. “Both, Gauri Khan’s mother and my mother had seen Mahira Khan in a Pakistani TV drama and said, ‘Yeh ladki achi hai (This girl is really good),’” Dholakia revealed. He immediately reached out to the casting director, who informed him that Mahira was already in Mumbai for promotional work. “After the audition, I declared, ‘I have found my Aasiya,’” he said.