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Bal gives up, leaves SRK alone

February 6th, 2010 Mumbai, Feb. 6:

Finally, the Shiv Sena has blinked in its tense standoff with Shah Rukh Khan and has said that it will not create trouble for his movie My name is Khan. The surrender comes on the heels of the Congress leader, Mr Rahul Gandhi's visit to Mumbai when he defied the Sena by travelling on local trains.

Though the Sena chief, Mr Bal Thackeray, bitterly labelled Shah Rukh a "traitor" in his editorial in the party mouthpiece Saamna, he also added in a dejected tone that the Sena will not oppose the release of his film, hinting that the campaign against the superstar was fizzling out.

Mr Thackeray sniped at the actor in his editorial. "A Khan named Shah Rukh tells us to love Pakistan but nobody feels suffocated due to his treachery. Traitors, do whatever you want to do with the blessings of Congress. Sena won't stop you," he wrote.

Shah Rukh, who arrived in Mumbai on Saturday, however, stuck to his stance that there was nothing anti-national in his comments on having Pakistani players in IPL. "I have not said anything that is anti-national or anti-Indian," said the actor, who reached the city after promoting his film in New York, London and Berlin. "I stand by what I said and I would like to say that may be the group has misunderstood me. There is no other reason because I have not said anything I should feel sorry about."

When asked whether he would go to Mr Thackeray's home 'Matoshree' to explain his position, Shah Rukh said he had gone there often. "If Balasaheb wants me to meet him, I will do that," said the actor. "But on this matter, I don't see...there is no reason for going and asking...but if my stand needs to be explained to someone, I have already done it. I don't think there is an issue on that front."

He hastened to add that Mr Thackeray was an "elderly gentleman" whose company he enjoyed. The actor deftly sidestepped questions on the issue of "Mumbai for all Indians". He said, "But I am what I am because of Mumbai."

http://www.deccanchronicle.com/national/sena-dubs-shah-rukh-traitor-099

SRK, Sena wind down, film may open peacefully

Bharati Dubey & Ambarish Mishra | TNN

Mumbai: Both parties in the Shiv Sena-Shah Rukh Khan feud appeared to climb down a little on Saturday without backing off from their ideological positions amid talk that a Bollywood actor and a senior state politician had played mediator between the party and the actor.

The Sena, despite insisting that Khan was a "traitor'' for taking up the cause of Pakistani players who were not picked by any team for IPL, said on Saturday that it was not interested in disrupting the screening of his next release, My Name Is Khan.

The first Sena official comment—on not wanting to disrupt the film—came, significantly, a day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi declined the safety of a helicopter and travelled by Mumbai's lifeline, the local train, through some traditional Sena bastions, sending out an unmistakably strong political rejoinder to the Sena and its agenda.

Khan's comments, too, after he touched down in Mumbai on Saturday morning, were much more guarded than those he had made abroad. Not once did he say he had said anything wrong—when he commented on Pakistani players not being picked for IPL teams (his own team did not pick any)—but he made the right noises to indicate that he was not interested in taking the war of words forward in the run-up to the release of his film on February 12.

But the Sena's climbdown, a day after the Gandhi scion took the wind out of its sails, was slightly more spectacular despite the potshots it took at the Congress and Khan.

In an editorial in Saamna, Sena chief Bal Thackeray said: "The Congress is free to rule the country in the manner it thinks is proper. Let Pakistan carry on its terrorist activity in Mumbai and let Shah Rukh Khan release his film with the blessings of the Gandhi Dynasty. The Sena will not do anything.''

'Why should Sena alone suffer?'

Mumbai: While the Shiv Sena said on Saturday that it would not hold up the screening of Shah Rukh Khan's next film, My Name Is Khan, the actor indcated that he was not interested in taking the war of words forward.

Sena CEO Uddhav Thackeray told TOI on Saturday: "Why should the Sena alone stick its neck out on terrorism or regional pride? Pak-sponsored terrorism is a major threat to India and Mumbai's security. However, the Congress leaders are not willing to take a firm stand on these issues as they believe in taking orders from 10 Janpath. Other political parties too keep mum on this sensitive issues. So why should Shiv Sainiks suffer police excesses and imprisonment. Matoshree, after all, is also on the hit-list of Pak terrorists.''

On his part, Khan said it was sad that his remarks on Pakistani cricketers in the IPL had been misconstrued. Asked if he would go to Matoshree to explain his position, Khan said Bal Thackeray was a senior leader and he had gone to his residence whenever he was called. "I have been there so often. Yes, I would like to go and have a drink with him,'' he said. But he also said he did not think the current issue merited any conversation. "If my stand needs to be explained to someone, I have already done it. I don't think there is an issue on that front,'' he said.

Khan, however, left a window open for conversation. "If there has been any misunderstanding, let's be gracious and talk it out,'' he added. "I think what I said was misconstrued. I am what I am because of Mumbai and I would like everyone in Mumbai to be happy. I think what is happening is very unfortunate. I think all the groups also want Mumbaikars to be happy. Then why create this kind of atmosphere?''

In New Delhi, chief minister Ashok Chavan weighed in, saying it would act against anyone trying to "bully'' others. "All movies, be it of Shah Rukh's or anybody else's, if they are approved by the censor board, will run and the government will protect them. We will make sure that not only the Shiv Sena, but any person or organisation trying to create disturbance is dealt with strictly as per the law of the land,'' he said. "Even I will go and watch those movies.''

Asked why his own team, the Kolkata Knight Riders, had not picked any Pakistani player, the actor said his team was keen on taking Abdul Razzaq. "But my coach informed me later that he had a finger injury. There was a slot available but one should also take into consideration the prevailing atmosphere,'' he added.

He, however, refused to comment on the reasons for the Sena backing off. "I really don't know that and cannot comment on a group's thinking or working pattern. But I am thankful that now the film will be released without any stress. There are 250 people involved in the film. I am really happy to know that me and my film are being taken as two different entities,'' he said.

He also said arts, sports and culture could help build ties with other countries and should be encouraged. Told that Thackeray had called him a traitor, the actor said, "It feels really awkward for me to explain that I am an Indian and not a bad one and love my country. I don't need to prove it to anyone.''

He added: "I really felt like crying when I was being questioned for being a regular Indian. It hurt me even more when my daughter called and asked me, 'Papa, do we have to leave India?' I had to send my wife, Gauri, back to be with the children.''

Sena demands action against Rahul

Shiv Sena executive president Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday demanded that the state should take action against Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi for his statements on the role of north Indians in protecting Mumbai during the 26/11 terror attacks. "He has made serious statements about the Indian forces. Such statements can lead to division in Indian army and result in disintegration of nation" said Uddhav in Pune. TNN

Two kind of people in this world - good or bad LOL -- wonder who they're referring to LOL

SRK: I am very sad right now

My daughter thought we'd have to leave Mumbai: Shah Rukh Khan

Calling the spat between the party and himself a misunderstanding, Khan said, "Talking about better relationships with another country (Pakistan) doesn't make me anti-national. I believe it's wrong to brand an entire nation in a certain way because some of their people are miscreants." Khan cited the example of a recent case where a nine-year-old Russian girl was sexually molested in Goa. "Would it be right for Russians to think of all Indians as rapists?" he asked.

'My daughter wanted to know if we'd have to leave Mumbai'
Reiterating his respect for Sena chief Bal Thackeray, Khan said that his ideology was different from that of the Sena's and that was where the disparity ended.

"However, I stand for what I said and am ready to face the consequences. But it's not right for my movie to be dragged in because a lot of money and the hard work of more than 250 people have gone into making it," Khan said, referring to threats from the party that they would stall the release of his film My Name Is Khan in Mumbai if he didn't apologise for his comments. "Arts, culture and sports bring people, cities and countries together and they should be left free," said Khan.

Just back from a promotional tour for the film abroad, the actor said he was worried for the safety of his wife and children while he was away.

"I almost feel apologetic to the Mumbai police — they are following me and my family around to make sure we are safe. There are barricades around my house and a lot of policemen are guarding it — it's not exactly a happy situation to be in. While talking to my daughter on the phone, she asked me if we would be asked to leave Mumbai," he said.

Clarifying why his team Kolkata Knight Riders did not pick Pakistani player, Abdul Razzaq, Khan said that the decision about who would be picked rested with the team's think tank — captain Saurav Ganguly and coach Dav Whatmore.

"We were clear we wanted one player, ideally an all-rounder. We were considering Razzaq but were told the night before the auction that he was suffering from a wrist injury. The choice was then between Kemar Roach, from the West Indies, and Shane Bond from New Zealand, and we went with Bond," said Khan.

Link http://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report_my-daughter-thought-we-d-have-to-leave-mumbai-shah-rukh-khan_1344340

wait does this mean that the whole drama is over?? did SRK apologize?

it is over, srk didn't apologize but ss still calling srk a traitor. SS said he won't give any trouble to movie MNIK

Shah Rukh Khan returns to Mumbai

Mumbai belongs to all Indians, says Shah Rukh Khan

Rajdeep Sardesai / CNN-IBN..
Published on Mon, Feb 08, 2010 at 14:58, Updated on Mon, Feb 08, 2010 at 15:05

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has once again spoken his mind and backed CNN-IBN's Mumbai for All campaign. After having made his views clear on inclusion of Pakistani players in the IPL, Shah Rukh Khan has sent out another message to the Shiv Sena and the MNS saying every community has a right to make a living in Mumbai.

CNN-IBN When the Shiv Sena says that Mumbai belongs to the Maharashtrians first, that they have a primacy over Mumbai, how do you respond to that as someone who has moved from Delhi and made a successful life in Mumbai?

Shah Rukh Khan: Like everyone else, but you know, I don't know about that ideology, but everyone says Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra, so it comes as a subset. So I don't know where the question is there of anyone in Mumbai thinking otherwise or in the country thinking otherwise. It can be 'Jai Hind, Jai Dilli', it can be 'Jai Hind, Jai Bihar', 'Jai Hind, Jai Gujarat', 'Jai Hind, Jai Kerala' , 'Jai Hind, Jai Bengal' or 'Jai Hind, Jai Maharashtra'...

CNN-IBN But would you learn Marathi?

Shah Rukh Khan: It is always the country first, me coming from another Union Territory at that point of time or any other place, I think that should be wonderful, why should I be asked a question. And yes I do agree whatever I am today in my professional job and my life and my future is because of the job I have got in this city, so I really think highly of this, so how can I be anti-Mumbai?

CNN-IBN So, Mumbai belongs to all?

Shah Rukh Khan: Yes, it belongs to everyone. Can I just say this the other way round, I think everybody who has come to Mumbai from outside, they belong to Mumbai, I think I am owned by Mumbai and I would also like to say this very, very clearly, that the last thing I want is anyone getting physically and emotionally damaged in this city, so anyone who tries to do it to curb a Mumbai sentiment which they assume somebody has, because they're not from here, they're doing exactly the same thing, hurting the Mumbaikars and Mumbai only. So I am just saying, I don't belong to Mumbai. Mumbai doesn't belong to me, I belong to Mumbai and that's the way I see it

CNN-IBN And you have lived 20 years in Mumbai. Now that you are a full scale Mumbaikar, should you be learning Marathi? Should Shah Rukh Khan be someone who needs to learn Marathi to prove that you are a true Mumbaikar?

Shah Rukh Khan: That would be hugely difficult because I am bad at languages and I just personally, not politically, I am quite ashamed that I've not been able to learn it in 20 years, I am quite slow, I am not good with languages, so don't I don't even act with lot of South Indian directors when they tell me to do it with two languages. But, my children know it, its a natural progression, they're born here, they're surrounded by it. I know a few things, majha naam Shah Rukh Khan aahe (my name is Shah Rukh Khan), I know gati rodhak poode aahe, because I read it on the roads, but yeah its shameful personally but I don't think its a pre-requisite, I am as Mumbaikar as anyone else. I don't think it is a major criteria.

CNN-IBN Why do you require the media to question you to take a stand, lets say on taxi drivers who are beaten up, lets say, by MNS activists, or when North Indian students are beaten up? Why doesn't Shah rukh Khan speak more often on issues that trouble you? If you are this humanitarian, why only tweet, why not take a stand in public?

Shah Rukh Khan: Completely, you're completely right. I think the time has come, and maybe, like I said, one has been younger, one has been more scared because one is vulnerable, but when even being scared, if things happen to you, and things go wrong, I think the time has come whenever there are issues that I feel for, or I have an opinion on... not only necessarily a stand, because I'm not a humanitarian, really, I mean not to that extent. I am just a self-serving pompous film star, bottomline, but yes just on grounds of humanity, which I keep talking about at least to my kids, I have to be righteous in that. You're correct, I will, beyond the internet, I would like to do it. Ya, maybe next time I think of something, I'd like to call you and ask you, and say 'listen, can I put my opinion on board'. Ya most certainly I should.

Videohttp://ibnlive.in.com/videos/109822/shiv-sena-never-asked-for-an-apology-says-srk.html

Srk tells about his IPL statement

http://ibnlive.in.com/videos/109854/02_2010/srk_special1a/im-getting-more-careful-about-what-i-say.html