Shah Rukh Khan’s First Comments After ‘Pathaan’ Controversy Erupts
In words that take on significance in light of demonstrations against his upcoming film “Pathaan,” Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan spoke on Thursday about social media toxicity and cancel culture and called for “positivity”.
“The collective narrative of our times is shaped by social media. Contrary to the belief that social media will affect cinema negatively, I believe cinema has an even more important role to play now,” he said at the opening of the 28th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF).
“Social media is often driven by a certain narrowness of view that limits human nature to its baser self. I read somewhere that negativity increases social media consumption and thereby increases its commercial value as well. Such pursuits enclose the collective narrative, making it divisive and destructive,” Mr Khan said.
“We haven’t been able to meet for a while, but the world is becoming normal now. We are all happy and I am the happiest. And I have no qualms in saying, that no matter what the world does, me and you, and all positive people in the world are ALIVE,” he added.
The comments come amid attacks on his upcoming film, “Pathaan,” from right-wing social media users who are supported by some BJP leaders who control the government. This is the second such virulent campaign against a Muslim movie star this year after Aamir Khan’s “Laal Singh Chaddha” earlier this year.
Narottam Mishra, the BJP’s home minister for Madhya Pradesh, is one of many who has attacked the movie, claiming one of its songs exhibited a “polluted mindset” and threatening to prevent its release there.
The central claim in the “Pathaan” controversy is that actor Deepika Padukone’s orange dress in the song “Besharam Rang” (Shameless Color) mimics the saffron that the BJP uses as its primary colour and is shunned in Hinduism.
Recent years have witnessed an increase in campaigns against Mr. Khan and those of his colleagues who are not viewed as blatant supporters of the ruling party, endangering the country’s thriving film sector.
