The Shiv Sena on Tuesday threatened it would not allow screening of Shah Rukh Khan’s movies till he apologised for his remarks regretting the absence of Pakistani cricketers in the forthcoming Indian Premier League tournament in March.
Though Khan has a major film, the Karan Johar directed My Name in Khan slated for release on February 12, he remained unfazed. In New York, he said he did not regret any of his comments, be it about Pakistani cricketers or about Mumbai belonging to all Indians and not Maharashtrians alone.
Without mincing words, the actor added he was proud to be an Indian, describing the Shiv Sena’s attitude as ‘unhealthy’, and ‘undemocratic’. “If there’s a controversy and if somebody’s got an issue, it’s with me and I stand up for it. I have a take on it that’s very strong, and I’m happy that’s the take I have as an Indian,” he said. .
“Whether it’s Shah Rukh or anyone else, when the Shiv Sena says he must take back his comments, he’ll have to do it,” said Manohar Joshi, Sena leader former Maharashtra’s chief minister. “It’s better he understands this well. Shah Rukh will have to apologise or else we will not let his film release in Mumbai.”
The Sena, and its breakaway Maharashtra Navnirman Sena have intimidated a number of other Bollywood personalities in the past, most recently Karan Johar for referring to ‘Bombay’ instead of ‘Mumbai’ in the script of his film Wake up, Sid.
{{/usCountry}}The Sena, and its breakaway Maharashtra Navnirman Sena have intimidated a number of other Bollywood personalities in the past, most recently Karan Johar for referring to ‘Bombay’ instead of ‘Mumbai’ in the script of his film Wake up, Sid.
{{/usCountry}}