Culture

Shah Rukh Khan: Shiv Sena vs SRK Over My Name is Khan

by Sudha Krishna | February 3, 2010 at 11:46 am

2520 views | 17 Recommendations | 4 comments

Call it Shiv Sena vs SRK.

To be more precise Shah Ruk Khan (SRK), India's biggest Bollywood star is standing firm against Siv Sena, a right wing, Marathi language, Hindu extremist political party, that forms the municipal government in Mumbai. Bal Thackeray Shiv Sena's leader has issued an order to Mumbai cinemas to remove posters of SRK's new film My Name Is Khan and Shiv Sena is also asking audiences to boycott the film.

The reason: Shiv Sena is angry at SRK for supporting the inclusion of Pakistani cricket players in the the IPL - India's Premier Cricket League. SRK is an owner of the IPL team Kolkata Knight Riders. Shiv Sena has called Shah Rukh Khan a traitor and his demanded an apology.

But Shah Rukh Khan is not backing down, speaking in New York to promote the world wide Fox Searchlight release of My Name Is Khan, SRK had this to say, "During a media interaction, he also described the Shiv Sena’s stance as “unhealthy”, “undemocratic” and “insensitive.” (source: Hindustan Times)

Now, Mumbai is bracing for the February 12th release of My Name Is Khan as Shiv Sena supporters promise to disrupt screenings of the film.
"The worry for the theatre owners playing My Name... is two-fold. While angry Shiv Sena activists are already tearing off the movie's posters, some may even buy tickets to go inside and cause maximum damage there," a senior police official told PTI (Press Trust of India).

My Name Is Khan is a very important film for SRK and beyond the controversy has been highly anticipated. It tells the story of a Muslim man in a post 9/11 world and it has been picked up by Fox Searchlight films, which also released the multi Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire.

SRK Videos: My Name Is Khan Trailer, News Reports on SRK vs Shiv Sena

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recommend This comment thread is now closed

Uwe Paschen

at 18:37 on February 3rd, 2010

Shah Ruk Khan is quiet right to be demanding an apology. Sadly our world is plagued by way to many like Siv Sena.

pinki (not verified)

at 10:42 on February 11th, 2010

Though most of the terrorist belong to pakistan but not all the Pakistanis are terrorist. Few days days before I saw a album based on moto indo-Pak connection, named "Aman ki Asha".In one hand our country shows the way of friendship with Pakistan, and on the other hand some political leaders of our country dont want to accept it, what should a normal Indian do ? SRK want to take the Pak players to make his team strong, there is no political/religious cause behind this. I think SRK takes the first step to the way to friendship with Pakistan, games are for amusement and peace not for battle.

sahid (not verified)

at 06:44 on February 13th, 2010

love u srk...........................................

Abe (not verified)

at 20:02 on February 14th, 2010

The movie is an excellent representation of human relationship at all level and in all walks of life. It presents the problem of profiling, steretyping and polarizing of humanity as it exists. Instead of condemning it or glorifying it, we need to accept it and embrace it with a concerted effort to correct it and right it whenever and whereever it is wrongfully promoted. Live and let live.