Mahima Chaudhry made her Bollywood debut in the 1997 hit Pardes, co-starring Shah Rukh Khan. The romantic drama was not only praised for its engaging storyline but also became iconic for its timeless songs like “Do Dil Mil Rahe Hain” and “Yeh Dil Deewana.” In a recent interview, Mahima opened up about her experience working with Shah Rukh Khan and shared some behind-the-scenes stories from the film.
During the interview, Mahima recalled the anticipation surrounding Shah Rukh Khan’s arrival on the set. “During the initial 15-20 days of Pardes, everyone kept saying he would arrive today or tomorrow, but he didn’t show up,” she revealed. When SRK finally arrived, the entire crew, many of whom were new, gathered around him to hear him speak. “He is full of stories,” Mahima shared, adding that she admired his star presence and enjoyed learning by watching him perform. “I would sit and watch his takes to see how he does the scenes, says his lines, performs the dance steps,” she added.
Reflecting on her career-defining debut, Mahima acknowledged how fortunate she was to have Pardes as her first film. She described the experience as being beyond her wildest dreams, attributing much of her success to luck. “When you’re doing your first film, you imagine all kinds of things but Pardes I must say, was something that I had never dreamed of because my debut was better than even what a dream would have been,” she shared. Mahima humbly admitted that while she didn’t consider herself the most talented, she believes that luck played a significant role in her success.
Mahima portrayed Kusum Ganga, a young woman caught in a love triangle, with a plot centered around a man seeking a traditional Indian bride for his NRI son. The film, directed by Subhash Ghai, became a blockbuster and established Mahima as a leading actress in the industry.
Mahima Chaudhry is set to appear in Signature, which will release on Zee5. Additionally, she has a role in Kangana Ranaut’s Emergency, which is scheduled to hit theaters soon.