Pathaan row: 'Who is Shah Rukh Khan...?'

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan is all set to make his dream comeback with Yash Raj Films’ much-awaited Pathaan. Apart from SRK’s return to movies after 4 years hiatus, the movie has been embroiled in controversy for several reasons.

The latest to comment on the Pathaan row is Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma. A few days after PM Modi directed BJP workers and party leaders to refrain from making unnecessary comments and ban Bollywood movies, Himanta on Saturday made a comment on the movie.

A few days back, a group of Bajrang Dal activists entered a theatre at Narengi where the film is slated to be screened, tore down posters and burnt them. They allegedly threatened to stop the screening of the movie.

Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sharma is asking who’s Shah Rukh Khan. Wao!

pic.twitter.com/7bqsdsVTjG

— Prashant Kumar (@scribe_prashant) January 21, 2023

During a media interaction, a journalist questioned the CM about the ‘violence’ by Bajrang Dal in Assam regarding the release of Pathaan. Without a second thought, Himanta questioned, “Who is Shah Rukh Khan?”

He further added, “I don’t know anything about him or the film Pathaan.”

When the journalist told Himanta that Khan is a Bollywood superstar, he again said, “People in Assam should be concerned about the release of Assamese movies, not Hindi movies.”

When questioned about the violence in the theatre, the Assam CM said, “Khan has not called me, though many from Bollywood do call me, regarding the problem. But if he calls me, I will look into the matter. Action will be taken if law and order have been violated and a case has been filed.”

Pathaan has been facing backlash for showing Deepika Padukone in a saffron bikini in the song ‘Besharam Rang’. Many politicians have called for a ban on the release of the movie. However, the violence against the release has seen a decline after PM Modi’s appeal.

The movie is slated for a release on January 25; and as per early predictions and advance bookings, it would collect a whopping Rs 300 crore at the weekends.