Mahira Khan finally speaks on Ranbir picture controversy

"It is my personal life and it is very normal for a boy and girl to hang out"

Mahira Khan has finally broken silence on the controversy that followed after pictures of her in a short dress smoking with Ranbir Kapoor surfaced, saying "it is her personal life".

"It is my personal life and it is very normal for a boy and girl to hang out," she said while speaking at the trailer launch of her upcoming film, Verna.

The famed actress did say she has learned from the incident. "Nowadays, (the) media is not only present at events but everywhere. So, I have learnt from it (the incident)."

Otherwise Pakistan's sweetheart, who has also made a huge name in Bollywood, Mahira faced severe criticism and was trolled after her pictures appeared on social media. Mahira was spotted with Ranbir Kapoor in New York and the pictures were taken in July when Ranbir was filming for Sanjay Dutt's biopic.

"I am a very careful person otherwise," she said. "People ask me that I do not do this in films, I say I do not want to. Why should I do anything to show the world?"

"Through the times of turbulence, through the joys, through the ups and downs, through the mistakes we make and all the success we get, let nobody… nobody's opinion define who you are, And if anybody defines who you are, let it be yourself. Because including me and all the women out there, we're all worth it!" she told Pinkvilla.

Celebrities come out in support of Mahira Khan after picture controversy

Ali Zafar, Osman Khalid Butt, Momina Mustehsan bash critics after Mahira's pictures with Ranbir went viral

Various celebrities came it in defence of Mahira, stressing on a woman's right to make her own choices and calling out society's double standards. Ranbir Kapoor also slammed trolls, saying that it is "sad is the inequality in judgment just because she is a woman."

"I've gotten to know Mahira in a personal capacity over the last few months. She is somebody who I admire and respect, for her achievements and even more for the person she is. It is very unfair the way she is being judged and spoken about. What is also sad is the inequality in judgment just because she is a woman. I request you to stop the negativity and move on with your beautiful god gifted lives. Peace and love," Indian media reported Ranbir as saying.