With political parties firm on their stand to not let the release of any Indian film that features a Pakistani artiste, producer Ritesh Sidhwani of 'Raees' had to take a tough call to let go of actress Mahira Khan.A source close to the team as confided, 'It was a very painful decision for producer Ritesh Sidhwani to take. The pressure to replace her had been building up for months. It reached a crescendo after the Uri attacks. It came to a point where it became impossible to shoot with any Pakistani. People suggested all kinds of solutions to the impasse, including shooting in Dubai. But it didn't seem viable. Now Mahira has unfortunately been relieved of her duties.'The 'Raees' team is now on the lookout for a new face and are likely to close down on one within two weeks.