I was broken, didn’t know what to say: Mahira Khan opens up about leaked photos with Ranbir Kapoor

Mahira Khan was also snapped with Ranbir Kapoor at Global Teacher Prize gala in Dubai earlier this year.

Ranbir Kapoor and Mahira Khan broke the internet in September this year, when their photos went viral. The two were seen casually strolling the streets of New York with cigarettes in hands. The pictures left a lot of fans wondering if the two were involved in a romantic relationship.

And the story didn’t end there. Trollers were quick to criticise Mahira for wearing a ‘short’ dress and also for smoking despite being a ‘woman’. Coming to Mahira’s rescue then was Ranbir Kapoor, who even issued a public statement standing up for the Pakistani actor. But while the internet was exploding, Mahira took the high road and chose to stay silent.

Now, Mahira has finally decided to break her silence over the matter and shared to somethinghaute.com how she felt broken and shattered after the incident. She says, “I’d be lying if I said that I decided right off the bat that I wouldn’t respond to this controversy. And I’m a very strong woman but when all of this happened, I was completely shattered and broken. I would think about posting a statement every day. Then I would stop myself because I just wouldn’t know what to say.”

Also read | Here’s what Ranveer Singh has to say about Ranbir Kapoor-Mahira Khan’s viral photos

But Mahira also understands where the criticism comes from. The Raees actor says that she knows why people were genuinely disappointed in her like her elders would be and how she now is quick to apologise when somebody points out the pictures.

#powerdigame #verna 👊🏼 pic.twitter.com/kulbU8ZxHL

— Mahira Khan (@TheMahiraKhan) November 8, 2017

She says, “Thankfully, ‘Power Di Game’ was ready to be released, which I thought was perfect timing, so I just posted that as sort of a response to the trolls. But to be honest, I understand where all the criticism came from and it didn’t come from a place of hate. I’m not talking about the trolls but those who were genuinely disappointed to see those pictures. It’s the same disappointment that my nani or my mamoo would have felt seeing that. So even now when I meet an older lady who says that she didn’t like the pictures, I’m quick to apologize.”

But Mahira is not one to shy away from the fact that being a celebrity means living up to the expectations of their fans. She confidently says that she is a good role model, “People ask me if I’m a good role model for my fans, and my response to that is that yes, I am a role model but I’m not the perfect role model. I am human, I make mistakes. And I was really happy to see that there were so many people who stood up for me. It goes to show that the narrative in Pakistan is changing, and if nothing else, I’m happy to have been part of that narrative.”

Mahira will next be seen in Verna and Maula Jatt 2.