Shah Rukh Khan is a national ‘icon’
Mumbai/ Nagpur: Political criticism is endless and berserk. Even as he came under attack from sections in BJP, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan on Wednesday received support from his Bollywood fraternity as well as ruling ally Shiv Sena which said the superstar should not be targeted only because he is a Muslim and that the minority community in India is “tolerant”.
“This country is tolerant and the Muslims are tolerant as well. Shah Rukh Khan should not be targeted only because he is a Muslim,” Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut, said media reports.
BJP leader Kailash Vijayvargiya had on Tuesday triggered a controversy when he tweeted that Shah Rukh’s “soul” is in Pakistan though he lives in India. His remarks came a day after the 50-year-old actor said there is “extreme intolerance” in the country.
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25 April 2025
Actor Shah Rukh Khan has received support from several quarters of Bollywood after being called a ‘Pakistani agent’ and compared to 26/11 mastermind Hafiz Saeed by BJP leaders Kailash Vijayvargiya, Sadhvi Prachi and Yogi Adityanath.
On Monday, his 50th birthday, Shah Rukh Khan spoke out strongly on the importance of keeping India secular, telling media channels, “Religious intolerance is the worst thing and will take India to the dark ages.” Comments like Mr Vijayvargiya’s “Shah Rukh lives in India but his heart is in Pakistan” followed. Embarrassed, senior BJP leader Venkaiah Naidu rushed to clarify that Mr Vijayvargiya, who has since retracted, spoke for himself and not the party.
SRK, who is routinely told to go to Pakistan told the media that it was degrading to have to keep proving his patriotism and that he wouldn’t be leaving India, has not responded to the comments made by the BJP leader. Twitter, however, has taken up cudgels on his behalf, with several tweets coming from the Happy New Year actor’s colleagues.
Notable among these are tweets from Anupam Kher, whose wife Kirron is the BJP MP from Chandigarh.
Some members of the BJP really need to control their tongue & stop talking rubbish about @iamsrk. He is a national icon & We r PROUD of him.
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) November 4, 2015
Can’t believe Sadhvi’s reaction to SRK on tv! They’re ones who want to break the country apart! There should be legal action against her! — Aparna Sen (@senaparna) November 3, 2015
He loves India more than most! It’s time for those that SRK has inspired, supported & worked with, to stand by him! #IStandWithSRK
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) November 4, 2015
These clowns are no one to question anyone’s patriotism. Honest criticism isn’t anti-national. It’s democratic #IStandwithSRK — Raghu Ram (@tweetfromRaghu) November 4, 2015
