Bollywood and public
favour find in the way of Shah Rukh Khan
It is a clear win for Shah Rukh Khan in the ongoing Shiv Sena Vs SRK battle as various sections of the country decided to come together and show their support for the actor. With the two multiplexes Fun Cinemas and Inox enjoying a house full when they decided to screen the SRK-starred My Name Is Khan on Friday, Feb 12, all Mumbai multiplexes have decided to follow the suit and screen the film. People who came out to watch the movie in these theaters told the media persons that they were not doing it only to watch the movie, but their acts were symbolic of the people standing by democracy and freedom of expression when they decided to not bow down to the threats of the political party. Besides the main stream media and state government, which vowed support to Shahrukh from the beginning, the Bollywood fraternity is also voicing its support. While Pooja and Kabir Bedi showed up at a theatre to catch the first day first show, Hrithik Roshan tweeted his support for Khan.
State Home Minister, RR Patil also arrived at a multiplex to watch the movie. Meanwhile in New Delhi, Shahrukh Khan fans gathered and shouted slogans in support of the Bollywood star. They even tore the posters of Shiv Sena leaders, Bal Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray.
OneIndia News
Celebs Tweet and
speak for SRK
 "Spread humanity with a vengeance, GO WATCH MY NAME IS KHAN. ..and for the record, my name is HRITHIK ROSHAN." Hrithik Roshan (@iHrithik)
"I support @iamsrk right to express his opinion. It's our Fundamental Rights. Besides sports shouldn't be a victim of divisive politics" - Kabir Bedi (@BedKabir)
"If our democracy can't keep @iamsrk safe from small time goons we as well be a mobocracy. Shiv Sena needs to be stopped. Now!" - Barkha Dutt, journalist (@BDUTT)
"MNIK gets my highest compliment - it made the 2 hour drive to the screening well worthwhile. Congrats @kjohar25, @iamsrk & @ShibaniBathija!" Rahul Khanna (@R_Khanna)
"I think this topic has been stretched too far, I think its time to talk about peace, and to talk about harmony. Rather than keep hinting on something, which is not going to get you or me anywhere. So please let's talk about peace and harmony and I hope that it exists. Everything is working out fine" - Amitabh Bachchan when asked to comment on the SRK vs. Shiv Sena issue at the Bol Bachchan launch.
My Name Is Khan breaks record as highest grossing Bollywood film
It was a case of unity triumphing over controversy, as fans from Maharashtra braved threats from the Shiv Sena and flocked to theaters on the very first day of My Name Is Khan's release.
Moviegoers across the country made sure they dropped all plans to watch the new Shah Rukh Khan flick - My Name Is Khan, which is directed by Karan Johar grossed an astounding Rs 250 million on the opening day alone, breaking all kinds of box office records. The worldwide gross of $5.5 million is among the highest ever recorded for a Bollywood film.
The film is only expected to rake in more moolah over the next two months as it expands to more international markets. Next week Bollywood fans in Egypt, Jordan, Syria, Oman and Lebanon get to watch the movie. In the US, My Name Is Khan distributed by Fox Searchlight and by 20th Century Fox International in other countries across the globe. The film grossed $9,727 in New Zealand and made 50 percent more money than any other Bollywood film in the Middle East. In the UK, MNIK scored $193,000 in just paid previews, which is another opening day record. However the film opened at the 11th spot all time stats in Australia.
"We are delighted with the performance and audience reactions across demographics. More so, because this is only phase one of the film release," said Vijay Singh, CEO of Fox Star Studios India, the Indian distributors of the film, "In addition to the release across 45 countries, My Name Is Khan will be rolled out in a phased manner across 25 non-traditional markets from April onwards."
Star Shah Rukh Khan is ecstatic with the film's numbers, and is happy that the Shiv Sena could do little to damage the flick. "Power to u all and pray for our film and me. give our team strength to see us through this...let the love flow. hit us hard with it!!" he wrote on his Twitter account. "I am humbled by this show of love & kindness. So don't know what else to say. Overwhelmed & promise will make India proud with my hard work. I realise today...I am just a film hero...You all in the theatres are the real deal. God, feel so loved & humbled. Hats off to all heroes." he added. Have YOU watched My Name Is Khan yet?
India.com
Shiv Sena vandalise and curtail viewings of
My Name Is Khan
Shiv Sena has taken the law into their own hands destroying cinemas around India which would eventually release Shah Rukh Khans My Name Is Khan. SRK's support of Pakistani players has sent ripples through Mumbai resulting in violence and vandalism in the country. Sainiks have made statements such as, "It's not Shah Rukh speaking, it's Khan!" and "We'll buy him a ticket to Pakistan. He can live in Lahore or Karachi."
As the party and the Bollywood darling duel it out, the theatre-goers and owners bear the brunt. Dealing with the violence are cinema owners who have had screens ripped to shreds and seats torn out. What was once a casual family affair among movie fans is now a question of risking one's life for a trip to the movies. Even before MNIK was released the Sena issued threats to theatres not to release the movie or they would have to deal with the consequences. Critics of the party say that this is the behavior of gunda's not politicians. Either way the movie has managed to earn well in India and worldwide sales don't seem to be slowing down.
SRK struck the match
that lit the fire at IPL
Shah Rukh Khan's outrage of Pakistani players being left out of the IPL has led him to become accused of unpatriotism in his own country. Stating that Pakistani players like Afridi, Shoaib, Tanveer, Razzak would have been better options than the Aussie and South African players, SRK has flared Hindu right-wing Shiv Sena into telling him to pack up and go home. Home being Pakistan!
Speaking on a television interview SRK said, "I feel there is no need to apologise. I haven't understood the issue. In my country everybody has the freedom to live, stay, happy, free and peacefully. If anyone has to come for work, arts, culture, sports, business, they're most welcome. I don't know when that changed." Some believe that the Sena are riding on the coattails of Shah Rukh's success and his freshly released film, My Name Is Khan |
