Indian Twitter is up in arms against Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, with #BoycottShahRukhKhan trending in the country. The apparent spark that led to the fire was a picture of the Om Shanti Om actor with Prime Minister Imran Khan from an event in 2008. Several users retweeted the picture calling for a boycott against Shah Rukh.
Retweet 🚩👇#BoycottShahRukhKhan pic.twitter.com/vkF7GOKg4c
— अहम् ब्रह्मास्मि (@Namo_bjp06) September 16, 2021
The fact that the actor is set to play a RAW agent in the upcoming film Pathan, in which he will be playing a Muslim, has also struck a nerve of Hindu fundamentalists in the country. The film will also feature Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, as well as Salman Khan in a cameo role, according to Times of India.
A user took to Twitter to write that the “ideology” Shah Rukh is promoting is harmful. They wrote, “Boycott Shah Rukh Khan because aap ek aese ideology ko promote kr rhe ho jo society, humanity and harmony ke liye harmful hai [You are promoting an ideology that is harmful to society, humanity and harmony].”
#BoycottBollywood#BoycottShahRukhKhan Because Aap Ek aese ideology ko promote kr rhe Ho.. Jo society, humanity & harmony ke liye harmful h.#BoycottBollywood #movies #Mindset #HateClub #dangerous #Propaganda #DeepikaPadukone #JohnAbraham #Pathan pic.twitter.com/H0rreTfWHE
— Sushma Rohit (@rohit_sushma) September 20, 2021
Another user claimed that Shah Rukh’s portrayal of Ashoka in the 2001 film, in which the actor starred alongside Kareena Kapoor, was negative and put the emperor in a “bad light”. The user also took issue with the actor choosing to play a character named Pathan. They tweeted, “SRK shows our Hindu king Ashoka in a bad light. Where Ajay Devgn and Akshay Kumar are making movies on Tanhaji and Prithviraj Chauhan, he is making a movie on Pathan. I mean it’s a spy action movie so why don’t they give him a Hindu name? Why praising Pathan in India?”
SRK show our hindu king ashoka in bad light... Where Ajay devgn and Akshay Kumar making movies on Tanhaji and Prithviraj chauhan he is making movie on pathan...I mean its spy action movie so why dont they give him hindu name, Why praising pathan in india. #BoycottShahRukhKhan pic.twitter.com/TTQJNZD9cx
— axay patel🔥🔥 (@akki_dhoni) September 16, 2021
Another user took to the micro-blogging site and posted about the glorification of Pathans in the upcoming film, writing, “Which Pathans are [they] glorifying? Those who are fighting among themselves? Killing their mothers and sisters? Killing their own brothers?”
#BoycottShahRukhKhan
— Satenderrawat (@satenderrawatuk) September 16, 2021
Which Pathans are glorifying? those who are fighting among themselves? killing their mothers and sisters? killing their own brothers?@beingarun28 pic.twitter.com/JrnGyqfTZn
On how Shah Rukh called India “intolerant” and called out the Indian Premier League (IPL) for its refusal to allow Pakistani players to take part in the matches, a user tweeted, “Before supporting anyone, I am a proud Indian. SRK called India 'Intolerant' when every Muslim is having full freedom. He says Pakistani players should be picked in IPL.”
Before supporting anyone
— TA (Animal Lover) #MI💙 (@Tirlovesha) September 16, 2021
I am a Proud Indian and Hindu🇮🇳🚩
SRK Called India 'Intolerant' when every Muslim is having full freedom
Says Pakistani players should be picked in IPL
Changed the name from Mir ranjan negi to kabir Khan in chak de#BoycottShahRukhKhan pic.twitter.com/trbYI2S1Vb
In a similar vein, another user shared an old video of Shah Rukh in which the actor calls out the rising intolerance in the country. The user tweeted, “‘There is extreme intolerance, there is growing intolerance in this country’ – Shah Rukh Khan. If India is an intolerant country, then why do these people still live here?”
"There is extreme intolerace, there is growing intolerance in this country" - Shahrukh Khan
— Sarcasm 💯🇮🇳🚩 (@sarcasm_100) September 16, 2021
If India is an intolerant country, then why these people still live here #BoycottShahRukhKhan pic.twitter.com/W6HxEsMZUq
Another Twitter user seemingly quoted the actor’s remarks on Pakistani cricket, labelling him “pro-Pakistan”. The post read, “Pakistani players are the best players in the world. They are the champions! There’s extreme intolerance in India! This guy SRK is pro-Pakistani and he has proven it many times.”
Pakistani Players Are The Best Player in the World. They are the Champions !
— 🇮🇳 (@IBeingPratik1) September 16, 2021
There’s Extreme Intolerance in India !
This Guy @iamsrk Is Pro Pakistani & He Has Proved it Many Times. #BoycottShahRukhKhanpic.twitter.com/kprhwso5Ng
Some users called for a complete boycott of Bollywood overall, writing, “Friends, We are on the way to success again! Let's share in each and every group and send this Bollywood to hell. We don't need any more Bollywood.”
Friends,
— 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐭 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐢 🚩🇮🇳 Justice4PalgharSadhus (@isumitrathi) September 16, 2021
We are on the way to success again!! Let's share in each and every group and send this Bollywood to hell...
We don't need anymore Bollywood. #BoycottShahRukhKhan pic.twitter.com/k33NwFA0gc
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