Raees director Rahul Dholakia has backed Shah Rukh Khan amid the ongoing outrage against Pathaan.
In a tweet, Rahul, who faced similar heat (albeit on a smaller scale) during Raees (2017), wrote that the 'hate attack' on Shah Rukh Khan has been going on for years and should be condemned by everyone in the film world.
"The hate attack (for years now) on @iamsrk should be condemned by one and all in the film industry," Rahul Dholakia tweeted. "SRK has contributed more to our fraternity and India as an ambassador of entertainment & cinema ; than most people have. Please tell these bigots with idiotic theories to Shut Up!"
Right-wing groups across India have taken issue with the song Besharam Rang from Pathaan, where Deepika Padukone and SRK are clad in saffron and green outfits respectively.
The protesters have claimed the song hurts the sentiments of Hindus and demanded rectification. There's also a persistent boycott campaign against the film on social media.
Following a similar warning by the Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra earlier this week, Maharashtra BJP leader Ram Kadam tweeted on Thursday that 'any film or serial that insults Hindutva' will 'not be allowed in Maharashtra'.
Inaugurating the 28th Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) on Wednesday evening, SRK said in his speech, “Social media is often given by a certain narrowness of view that limits human nature to its baser self. I read somewhere that negativity increases social media consumption, and thereby increases its commercial value as well.”
“Such pursuits enclose the collective narrative making it divisive and destructive,” he added.
His comments rang out in the context of the present outcry against Pathaan.