Pakistani actor and singer Haroon Shahid has made a surprising revelation about his debut film Verna, claiming that Bollywood superstar Kareena Kapoor Khan was initially considered for the female lead before Mahira Khan eventually stepped into the role.
A viral clip from Haroon’s recent television appearance has been making the rounds on social media, with the actor looking back on his experience working on Shoaib Mansoor’s 2017 film and revealing an unexpected detail about its original casting.
According to Haroon, Kareena was initially supposed to be part of Verna, but she became unavailable while expecting her first child. He explained that Shoaib Mansoor had already been in discussions with the Bollywood star before eventually approaching Mahira for the role.
“Kareena was supposed to be part of that film. Then she was expecting a child, so she stepped away. After that, Mahira Khan was selected,” Haroon recalled.
He added that Mansoor told him Kareena was unavailable and suggested Mahira instead. Haroon said he viewed both actresses as major stars and described the experience of working with them as something that carried immense significance for him.
The actor also recalled that discussions surrounding the film had already reached Kareena, with the script reportedly having been shared with her. He credited Shoaib Mansoor’s strong professional standing in India at the time, particularly following the popularity of his films Khuda Kay Liye and Bol.
While reflecting on his first meeting with Mahira, Haroon revealed that he was immediately struck by her humility and down-to-earth personality.
He recalled that during their first script-reading session, he was about to get up because there was not enough space for him to sit comfortably. Mahira, however, told him that she would sit on the floor instead, a gesture that left a lasting impression on him.
Haroon went on to shower praise on Mahira’s professionalism, humility and work ethic, saying that his perception of her had only strengthened after collaborating with her on multiple projects.
The actor, who later worked with Mahira again in the television drama Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay, said that after having the opportunity to work with several accomplished performers, he would now choose Mahira without hesitation.
Verna, written and directed by Shoaib Mansoor, was released in 2017 and starred Mahira Khan as Sara alongside Haroon Shahid.
The film marked Haroon’s acting debut and paired him with Mahira in a socially driven drama. At the time, Haroon described working with Mansoor and the experienced Mahira as an entirely new and significant experience for him.
Years after the film’s release, Haroon’s latest revelation has given fans an intriguing glimpse into what the casting of Verna might have looked like had Kareena Kapoor remained available for the project.