'Zero' makers clear the air surrounding religious controversy

BJP MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa alleged that the film's promo hurts their sentiments

In a rather surprising turn of events, Shah Rukh Khan’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” promotions, reported Business Standard.

The makers were further asked to remove an "objectionable" scene from the movie and urged police to file a complaint against them for "hurting" the sentiments of Sikhs. “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.

SCREENGRAB

In the complaint directed to the Station House Officer (SHO), BJP MLA Manjinder Singh 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).

Aamir Khan is all praises for Shah Rukh Khan in 'Zero'

This resulted in an uproar amongst the Sikh community worldwide. 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.

PHOTO: SHAH RUKH KHAN/TWITTER

However, following this, Sirsa has accepted the clarification offered by the film's creators. Applauding the maker's quick response, Sirsa tweeted: "It's good you have clarified this in time. We accept your point. Anything that hurts religious sentiments should be clarified with clear communication."

It’s good you have clarified this in time. We accept your point @SpiceSocial1

Anything that hurts religious sentiments should be clarified with clear communication https://t.co/jn00Uk1VNt

— Manjinder Singh Sirsa (@mssirsa) November 6, 2018

The film's PR team wrote to him saying no visual or image in the film depicted the Kirpan. "The images show a dagger popularly known as 'katar' in the Indian-subcontinent and is nowhere close to a Kirpan that carries the distinguished blessing of being Khalsa."

PHOTO: ZERO/TWITTER

The note further read, "The team Zero clarifies that they have been careful not to hurt the feelings of community and any concerned caused is completely inadvertent."

Featuring Shah Rukh, Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif in lead roles, Zero is slated to release on December 21, 2018.

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