Co-producer of SRK starrer ‘Raees’ finally responds to reports of Mahira being replaced

For a while now reports that actress Mahira Khan may be replaced in superstar Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Raees’ have been doing rounds of media. Responding to these reports, co-producer of the movie Ritesh Sidhwani today said that there was no truth in them.

Speaking at a fashion event in New Delhi, Ritesh said that he did not know from where such rumours start.

Grapevine went abuzz that makers were planning to replace Pakistani actress Mahira owing to the current tension between India and Pakistan. Artistes from across the border have received flak with political party MNS demanding for a ban on them. It all started after the attack on army base camp in Uri on September 18.

On the said replacement of Mahira, Ritesh said that all he knows is that he has had 45 days with her and finished the movie. The Pakistani beauty will debut with ‘Raees’.

Also Read: IMPPA ban: Mahira Khan to be replaced in Shah Rukh Khan starrer ‘Raees’?

When asked why he and the team of ‘Raees’ chose to keep quiet when all these speculations were floating, Ritesh said that it was better to ignore such things.

‘Raees’ is one of the movies which is at the centre of the Pak artist ban controversy. The Indian Motion Picture Producers Association (IMPPA) put a ban on all artistes from across the border a few weeks ago. Echoing their thoughts of showing solidarity to feeling across the nation, Cinema Owners Exhibitors Association of India (COEAI) today announced that they will not screen any movie starring Pak actors.

This decision by COEAI has put uncertainty on release of ‘Ae Dil Hai Mushkil’ (which was slated to release on October 28) and ‘Raees’. The movie stars Fawad Khan and Mahira Khan respectively.

With the producer of ‘Raees’ confirming that Mahira is very much a part of the movie, it is left to see if this movie faces trouble close to release or no.