I am not your feminist: Mahira Khan and the re-scripting of Pakistani womanhood, Islam, and globalization

This chapter looks at Mahira Khan’s introduction into the Hindi film industry, particularly her co-starring performance in the popular serial Humsafar and her recent debut in the Hindi film Raees (2017). Mahira’s association with global and local popular culture places Pakistani identity on a transnational platform, while her representation of modest yet assertive female roles contradicts stereotypes about Pakistani/Muslim womanhood as victimized. By embodying shared ideals of beauty and star appeal in the Hindi film industry, Mahira has transcended media franchises in what remains a largely patriarchal industry. Her existing popularity with non-Western viewers reveals how crossover stars – and the showcasing of Islamic cultural traditions and values – have viable appeal with global target audiences, transforming their reception in India.