Tiger Zinda Hai: After Padmavati, it’s Salman Khan’s turn to draw protests

After Padmavati and Game of Ayodhya, it is Salman Khan’s Tiger Zinda Hai that has drawn the ire of a section of society.

After Padmavati and Game of Ayodhya, it is Salman Khan’s Tiger Zinda Hai that has drawn the ire of a section of society. The Valmikis have opposed the film on the ground that Khan used a casteist remark against their community during a promotional interview for the film. The actor had used the word ‘Bhangi’ while describing his dancing skills.

A handout photo from the film Tiger Zinda Hai.

The community is upset with actor Shilpa Shetty too. She, like Khan, had also used the word ‘Bhangi’ in an inappropriate manner during an interview.

The community is upset with actor Shilpa Shetty too. She, like Khan, had also used the word ‘Bhangi’ in an inappropriate manner during an interview. (Mahipal Singh)

On Friday, members of the community protested against Tiger Zinda Hai, tore down its posters and burnt Khan’s effigy. “Salman Khan’s insulting remark against Valmikis has hurt our sentiments,” said community leader Sandesh Raj. “If action is not taken against him, we will not allow the movie to be screened in Aligarh,” he said while also issuing a warning to the film’s producer Aditya Chopra.

Earlier, a meeting of Shri Balmiki Sena (UP) was organised at the body’s office in Shishiyapara, Aligarh, where the speakers lodged their protest in the matter. The outfit threatened the administration that if the movie’s shows were screened in any cinema in the city, consequences would be “harsh”.

SBS state president Anand Shastri said it was lamentable that the “society’s thinking about Dalits was still unchanged and even educated people were using insulting remarks against them”. State secretary Prashant Balmiki agreed with him.

Billu Chauhan, another Valmiki leader, demanded public apology from Salman Khan and Shilpa Shetty. “Otherwise, we will launch state-level agitation against them. We will also halt the screening of the film (TZH) all across UP.”

Meanwhile, city convener of BJP’s scheduled caste cell informed that another dalit outfit, Maharishi Balmiki Mahotsva Mela Committee, had announced a protest against Salman Khan and Tiger Zinda Hai.

Just about a month ago, several Rajput groups had opposed Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film Padmavati. (Mahipal Singh/HT Photo)

Valmikis in Rajasthan and Delhi have also agitated against Khan and Shetty for their ‘casteist remarks’.

Just about a month ago, several Rajput groups had opposed Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s film Padmavati that stars Deepika Padukone in the titular role. Such was the scale of protests that the movies release had to be postponed indefinitely. Soon after that saffron outfits had objected to the screening of Game of Ayodhya -- a movie based on the backdrop of the Ram Temple- Babri Mosque issue.