Complaint filed against SRK starrer 'Zero' for hurting religious sentiments

Actor's upcoming venture has caused an outrage among the Sikh community

From what we can remember, Shah Rukh Khan has never been in the headlines for hurting religious sentiments. Maybe his empathetic side steps in, being a Muslim residing in a Hindu-majority India or he may just be a strong believer of 'too each their own'.

In a rather surprising turn of events, the King of Romance's upcoming Bollywood project Zero has landed itself in legal trouble. A complaint against the Aanand L Rai directorial was filed by a Sikh group on Monday, who demanded the film's team to "immediately stop" the promo.

Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee's (DSGMC) general secretary, Manjinder Singh Sirsa said that they have received a number of complaints from the Sikh Sangat.

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In the complaint directed to the Station House Officer (SHO), Sirsa alleged that in the promo of the movie, the lead star has been shown wearing a ‘Gatra Kirpan’ (a knife which is considered an article of Sikh Faith). This resulted in an uproar amongst the Sikh community worldwide.

"You are requested to lodge FIR against the movie director Aanand L Rai and film actor Shahrukh Khan. You are also requested to immediately stop the promo of the Zero movie showing actor Shah Rukh Khan wearing Gatra Kirpan," the notice read.

I have written a letter to actor of @Zero21Dec @iamsrk & director @aanandlrai to withdraw the objectionable scene and poster showing Kirpaan as ordinary dagger

Filed a complaint as well as this promotion hurts Sikh sentiments pic.twitter.com/yuTpVPLfij

— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (मोदी का परिवार) (@mssirsa) November 5, 2018

Sirsa also requested the SHO to make Rai remove the objectionable scenes. It threatened to halt the film's screening by carrying out stage protests in various cinema houses if their demands are not fulfilled.

The trailer and a new poster of Zero was released on the occasion of Shah Rukh’s birthday on November 2. The film is slated to release on December 21 this year.

However, Zero isn't the first film to have a complaint filed. Previously, Abhishek Bachchan's Manmarziyaan also faced similar issues.

PHOTO: TAAPSEE PANNU TWITTER

The Anurag Kashyap-helmed rom was also accused for portraying a negative image of the Sikh community through certain scenes in the film.

The protestors then seeked a ban on the screening of the film. They also issued warning, calling for stage protests outside multiple theatres if Manmarziyaan was not taken off from cinema screens.

The Sikh organisation objected to a few scenes where Abhishek and Taapsee Pannu can be seen smoking cigarettes while acting as Sikh characters. They have also objected to the scene where the Dus star can be seen removing his turban in an inappropriate way.

PHOTO: INDIA TODAY

"The film-makers have not only hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikhs, but they have also made an attempt to distort the Sikh principles," the complaint filed against the film read.

"This is not the first time when a film is attacking the Sikh identity, earlier as well there have been films which have targeted the Sikhs. We will strongly oppose the screening of this film in our area, we urge the Sikhs worldwide to unite and stand against this film."

Anurag then addressed the issue and gave a clarification on the matter.

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