Mahima Chaudhry recently looked back at her debut film, Pardes, and shared what it was like working with Shah Rukh Khan at a time when he had already established himself as one of the biggest stars in Hindi cinema.
Speaking at the Bollywood Hungama OTT India Fest 2025, Mahima recalled that Shah Rukh Khan had already delivered several major hits before Pardes, including Deewana, Baazigar and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge, which made the experience both exciting and intimidating for her as a newcomer.
“He was a huge star. So many films have happened back-to-back. Deewana, Baazigar and Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge had just happened. So he was a huge star, and at that time, we were crushing on him. So it was nerve-wracking to say dialogues in front of him and in your first film. So, yeah, it was difficult, and I was extremely lucky,” she said.
Looking back now, Mahima described the opportunity as something she remains grateful for even today. “Now, when I look back, I thank my stars, and I wonder what I did, or I don't know, maybe it was my parents' blessings. I don't know what got me there,” she added.
Mahima also shared memories from the film’s overseas schedule in the United States and spoke about how travelling abroad for the shoot was a new experience for many members of the team at the time. She noted that international shoots were far less common than they are today.
“I think there are so many good memories there. Now people travel a lot. You'll have access to a lot more income because you'll start earning faster. Travel has become a lot cheaper. When we reached the US… it was one of the first films to shoot abroad. Yash Chopra was the one who started going abroad to shoot, and when we reached there, 90% of the people were travelling abroad for the first time,” she recalled.
She added that the experience created a shared sense of excitement among the cast and crew. “I saw people looking at the world with amazement, using the escalator multiple times. They were just so fascinated by being in America. And it was like, you know, we never thought we would come outside the country, whether it was the production guys or some of the actors. So, that thrill of experiencing a new world together was amazing. I thought it was nice,” she said.
Directed by Subhash Ghai, Pardes marked Mahima Chaudhry’s Bollywood debut and went on to become one of the notable films of her early career.
Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Mahima Chaudhary says she had “no intention” of doing Baghban
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