'Controversy on my article nonsense, don't feel unsafe in India'


Mumbai, Jan 30 (IANS): Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan Tuesday termed the controversy kicked up the Pakistan Interior Minister Rehman Malik on his article as "nonsense" and asserted that nowhere did it imply he feels unsafe or threatened in India.

"To address this whole issue, with regards to my article, that has taken an unwarranted twist. I do not even understand the basis of this controversy. This is what can only be called 'nonsense'. It is Deja Vu all over again," he told reporters at an event here.

Speaking about his article - a first person account for Outlook Turning Points magazine, published in association with The New York Times newspaper, Shah Rukh said that nowhere does the article state or imply directly or indirectly that he feels unsafe, troubled or disturbed in India.

"It does not even vaguely say that I am ungrateful for the love that I have received in a career spanning 20 years. On the contrary the article only says that in spite of bigoted thoughts of some of the people that surround us, I am untouched by scepticism because of the love I have received by my countrymen and women," he said.

Malik had Monday said that India should provide security to Shah Rukh Khan, wading into a controversy triggered by Jamaat-ud Dawa chief Hafiz Saeed stating that the star could move to Pakistan following his comments on being a Muslim.

Shah Rukh also took pot shots at those who offered him "unsolicited advice", saying: "We, in India, are extremely safe and happy. We have an amazing democratic, free and secular way of life."

"In the environs that we live here in my country India, we have no safety issues regarding life or material. As a matter of fact it is irksome for me to clarify this non-existent issue," he said.

He said 24 hours of unnecessary controversy is more than enough for everyone.

"Do not sensationalise and hence trivialize matters of national interest and religion any further and drag a movie actor in the middle of it all. Let me get back to doing what I do best - making movies."

On a lighter note, Shah Rukh made an indirect reference the answer he gives to his children when they ask about their religion.

"Sometimes, they ask me what religion they belong to and, like a good Hindi movie hero, I roll my eyes up to the sky and declare philosophically, 'You are an Indian first and your religion is Humanity', or sing them an old Hindi film ditty, 'Tu Hindu Banega na Musalmaan Banega - Insaan ki Aulaad Hai Insaan Banega' set to Gangnam style," he said.

  

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Comment on this article

  • CYRIL MASCARENHAS, KIREM/MIRA ROAD/DUBAI

    Wed, Jan 30 2013

    PAK IS UNSAFE FOR EVERYBODY.SPECIALLY CHRISTIANS AND HINDUS.THEY DONT NEED ANY RELIGIONS THERE.THEY SIMPLY CLAMP BLASPHEMY CASE AND AND GIVE DEATH SENTENCE TO ANY OTHER RELIGIONS PERSON.THEY DONT HAVE ANY MERCY..

    DisAgree Agree [1] Reply Report Abuse

  • GERALD, Modankap

    Wed, Jan 30 2013

    ANYWAYS HIS HEART GOES TO PAK THATS FOR SURE !!! I HATE PEOPLE THOSE WHO BRINGING THE RELIGION IN MAIN STREAM TO GET THE MILEAGE !!!

    DisAgree [1] Agree [3] Reply Report Abuse

  • OSWALD VAZ, THOTTAM/BAHRAIN

    Wed, Jan 30 2013

    SHAHRUKH,YOU ARE NOT THE ONLY MUSLIM ACTOR IN INDIA. I CAN NAME 15 OF THEM LIKE YOU.WE LIKE YOU AS AN ACTOR NOT FOR YOUR RELIGION. DON'T BRING ANY RELIGIOUS THOUGHT FOR THIS. WE RESPECT ALL THE RELIGIONS HERE.IF WE GO WITH THE RELIGION THEN 80% OF PEOPLE IN INDIA ARE HINDUS'.

    DisAgree [4] Agree [5] Reply Report Abuse

  • Rajesh Dsouza, Mangalore

    Wed, Jan 30 2013

    Well said Lydia.Indian people have educated but the mentality of the indians never changed.We are working in UAE muslim country but they never made feel us that we are from other religion or other country but we Indians always blame other religions.They provide us space to do build church or temple.I think we must learn alot from these people.

    DisAgree [1] Agree [6] Reply Report Abuse

  • R.Bhandarkar., M

    Wed, Jan 30 2013

    With Gauri Khan by his side you have got to hand it over to Shahrukh Khan!At least this takes guts and let's not forget he took the plunge some 'two decades' back when the going was tougher!He's not a 'Pseudo Secularist' for sure!!

    DisAgree Agree [7] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lingappa, Kuppepadavu

    Wed, Jan 30 2013

    Its apparent, An ageing, slow slipping celebrity, deliberately raking up a controversy to stay in the lime light. Why doesn’t he tell Rehaman Malik or Pak to ‘mind their own business’.

    DisAgree [11] Agree [4] Reply Report Abuse

  • avani, mlore/uae

    Wed, Jan 30 2013

    I appreciate Sharukh for his reply and clarification. Thank you.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [14] Reply Report Abuse

  • Lydia Lobo, Kadri

    Wed, Jan 30 2013

    SRK it became a wave because you are a superstar. But one indeed will wonder who is safe in India. A Christian is a 'convert' so he is supposed to go to Italy. A Muslim is a convert, so he is supposed to go to Pakistan. Who will drill it into the skulls of the majority that they too are converts ? They were converted by the invading Aryans to Hinduism from their original tribal beliefs.

    DisAgree [3] Agree [22] Reply Report Abuse

  • THERESA LOBO, Mukamar-Sharjah

    Wed, Jan 30 2013

    Shah Rukh Khan....you are a good actor. I have seen most of all your movies. You are good human being and ofcourse today you are a famous actor too. May God bless you and your family and May God grant all your heart desires. My full votes for you and I respect you.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [19] Reply Report Abuse

  • Noel Francis Lewis, Kinnigoli / Dubai

    Wed, Jan 30 2013

    Well said! SRK you are so famous across the world that whatever you state becomes a controversy. Who knows even your above statements also may dragged to hell.

    DisAgree [2] Agree [18] Reply Report Abuse


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