SHAH RUKH KHAN ON PADMAAVAT CONTROVERSY

Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Padmaavat starring Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, and Shahid Kapoor hit the silver screen on 25 January this year amidst all the protest by Rajputs and Karni Sena. The movie is appreciated by audience and critics and has managed to earn Rs. 540 crore at the box office worldwide.

Shah Rukh Khan has finally spoken on the whole Padmaavat controversy. He said the major Bollywood stars chose to stay silent not out of fear but to avoid hurting the film's chances at the box office. He told a leading daily; ‘’Sometimes, when people are going in an ‘uprising’, you should just stand back. Nobody is scared, fearful or hiding their own skin as is said about Bollywood stars, ‘Oh these people just want to earn money and not do anything for the society.’ No. We love our society, we make entertaining films and we want our society to be happy.’’

Shah Rukh said; "Business of our films happen in the first few days. If you kill the first few days, the business suffers... Recently with the Viacom18 film (Padmaavat), we had people saying ‘Why don’t the other stars come up, they are not coming up, oh they are hiding.’ No, we are not hiding. As a matter of fact, the simple truth is this - there are certain people who go on an ‘uprising’, so to say. If more prominent actors, actresses and directors came and talked about this film... As a matter of fact, many a times I suggested to their team, not to talk about this, just keep quiet because you are giving wind to fire. And suddenly these people are getting more recognised by the virtue of being on all the news channels. So don’t give them importance.”

He added; “No filmmaker goes out and makes films to incite people, to trouble regions, to disturb the community. I never think anyone does that... Especially, all the responsible people. (But) Sometimes this is going to happen.’’

“As a 52-year-old father, I want you to come to the theatre - safe and sound - with your child and go happily. Even if you don’t like the film, the experience should be fantastic. That’s my responsibility. So the hurtfulness is not because ‘I am worried about my film’ but I am worried about that girl, my own son watching the film,’’ he further added.

Shah Rukh Khan's wise advice has helped to keep the situation sane to an extent.