Not only is Shah Rukh Khan a powerhouse actor who has made a lasting impact on audiences worldwide, but he has also been a lucky charm for many, especially for female actors who made their on-screen debut alongside him. From Shilpa Shetty in Baazigar (1993) and Preity Zinta in Dil Se (1998) to Deepika Padukone in Om Shanti Om (2007) and Anushka Sharma in Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi (2008), the list is not small. Among those who had their first film appearance with Bollywood’s Baadshah is Mahima Chaudhry, who starred opposite him in director Subhash Ghai’s Pardes (1997).

The actor recently took a trip down memory lane, recalling working with Shah Rukh Khan in the movie and how he immediately became the centre of attention the moment he stepped onto the movie set. “During the initial 15-20 days of Pardes, everyone kept saying he would arrive today or tomorrow, but he didn’t show up. When he finally did, everyone huddled around him, because we were all new, and waited for him to say, ‘Hi’. Once he started a conversation, everyone would listen. He is full of stories,” she recalled during a chat with Radio Nasha Official.

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“I would sit and watch his takes to see how he does the scenes, says his lines, performs the dance steps etc to watch and learn,” she added. Also starring Apurva Agnihotri, Amrish Puri, Alok Nath and Himani Shivpuri, Pardes emerged as a big hit upon release, with the soundtrack, composed by Nadeem–Shravan and lyrics penned by Anand Bakshi, receiving widespread commendation.

The film’s success brought a wave of opportunities to Mahima, paving the way for a notable career. After playing one of the lead roles in the drama film The Signature, Mahima is gearing up for the release of her second movie this year — Emergency, wherein she plays the role of cultural activist and writer Pupul Jayakar who harboured a close relationship with the Nehru family and was a dear friend to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.

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