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This is an archive article published on December 10, 2024

Gauahar Khan says leaving Zehaan home was like ‘leaving a piece of my heart’, expresses desire to work with Shah Rukh Khan

Gauahar Khan talks about carrying forward Shah Rukh Khan's legacy in Fauji 2 and feeling mom guilt while leaving son Zehaan at home.

Gauahar KhanGauahar Khan talks about losing 10 kgs in 10 days. (Photo: Gauahar Khan/Instagram)

Like many other celeb moms, Gauahar Khan has also come forward to talk about feeling guilty about leaving her newborn alone and going back to work. While some have even opened up about not getting enough opportunities as a new mother, Gauahar, who was blessed with her first child Zehaan with husband Zaid Darbar in May last year, says that the showbiz industry was nothing but supportive of her.

In an interview with SCREEN, she elaborates, “The industry has been extremely kind. I did Jhalak Dikhla Jaa as a host right after having Zehaan. So, I am extremely grateful to filmmakers and producers who have given me the opportunity to start working immediately and living my life as I used to before.”

Having said that, Gauahar Khan admits that no mother can escape mom guilt. “Leaving Zehaan home was like leaving a piece of my heart. However, it has gotten better now. Initially, I couldn’t even be away from him for a few hours. But Zaid has been nothing but supportive. He is either there with him or I am. I even take him with me to shoots sometimes. And, Zehaan is also growing and trying to understand these things slowly. I also make sure to pick work as per the needs of my baby,” she tells us.

Meanwhile, Gauahar will be carrying forward Shah Rukh Khan’s legacy as her latest TV show, Fauji 2, is a spiritual sequel to his 1999 show, Fauji. While promoting the show at IFFI 2024 in Goa, with the entire team, she expressed, “It is an honour. First of all, the legacy of Fauji 2, then IFFI, and DD National. It is all extremely humbling and very exciting.”

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Ask her if there was any pressure in carrying SRK’s legacy forward, and she shares, “It gives me a lot of responsibility. When I read the first line in one of the first promos, which read that ‘Gauahar Khan will be taking Shah Rukh Khan’s legacy forward,’ I was like, ‘Oh my God.’ It was a lot of pressure. I do hope to work with him someday. I am really grateful to be cast in such an important role.”

Talking about the experience of shooting for Fauji 2, Gauahar Khan says, “We do everything very realistically. All the drills that happen on the ground is real. All the boys really sweat it out and how. We actually felt like we were a part of the Army and that was an amazing feeling.”

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Produced by Sandeep Singh, Fauji 2 features Vicky Jain and Gauahar Khan in the lead roles. The series premiered on DD National on November 18, 2024.

Navya Kharbanda is an Entertainment Journalist and Cinematic Commentator at The Indian Express, where she specializes in bridging the gap between classic Bollywood heritage and contemporary Gen-Z perspectives. Her work is characterized by a blend of nostalgia-driven analysis and on-the-ground reporting from major film festivals and industry events. Experience & Professional Background Navya is a prominent voice on The Indian Express entertainment desk, known for her ability to secure candid interviews with both legendary veterans and rising stars. Her career highlights include: The Indian Express: Covers a wide range of topics from high-stakes box office analysis to in-depth celebrity profiles. She is a regular at major events like the International Film Festival of India (IFFI). SCREEN Interviews: Navya has conducted a series of "exclusive conversations" for SCREEN, featuring industry stalwarts like Anupam Kher, Vishal Bhardwaj, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and Suhasini Maniratnam. Archival Reporting: She is noted for her sensitive handling of archival interviews and retrospectives, recently covering the legacy of late superstar Dharmendra and the career reflections of the late Satish Shah. Expertise & Focus Areas Navya’s beat is uniquely defined by her "Gen-Z Revisit" series, where she re-evaluates cult classics through a modern lens. Her core areas of expertise include: Cinematic Retrospectives: Analyzing 80s and 90s landmarks like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, and Mohabbatein to explore how themes of romance and rebellion resonate with today’s youth. Industry Insights: Tracking the career resurgences of actors (e.g., Akshaye Khanna) and the evolving dynamics of film production and distribution in the OTT era. On-Set Dynamics: Reporting on behind-the-scenes stories from major productions, ranging from the technical challenges of Mirzapur: The Film to the work ethics of superstars like Shah Rukh Khan. South Indian Cinema: Expanding her coverage to include the impact of regional icons and the rise of pan-Indian fantasy epics like Magadheera. Authoritativeness & Trust Navya Kharbanda has established her authority by consistently providing "Journalism of Courage" in the entertainment sphere. Whether she is interrogating the sexism in patriarchal classics or reporting on the fair-pay debates at international film festivals, her work prioritizes factual accuracy and critical objectivity. Her ability to synthesize deep industry history with modern audience trends makes her a trusted source for readers seeking both entertainment news and thoughtful cultural commentary. ... Read More

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