Prakash Raj: Pathaan boycotters just barking, they won’t bite

Prakash Raj, at a literature festival in Kerala recently, commented on the boycott campaign that had been plaguing Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan. Describing the boycotters as “just barking and won’t bite,” the actor labeled the whole campaign as “Sound pollution.”

The film, which also stars Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, came under controversy over the song ‘Besharam Rang’ in which Deepika was wearing an orange beach dress. Some right wing extremists objected to the song’s video stating that Deepika wearing the colour is an “insult to Hinduism” and hurts their sentiments.

However, the film, when released, broke all records on the box office to become the biggest Hindi blockbuster till date.

 Attending the Mathrubhumi International Festival of Letters in Kerala over the weekend, Prakash was one of the invited speakers at the festival along with Kabir Bedi, Amitav Ghosh and Sudha Murthy. He said, "They wanted to ban Pathaan. It's going 700 crores. These idiots, who wanted to ban Pathaan, did not run Modi's film for 30 crores. They are just barking, they don't bite. Don't worry. Sound pollution!"

Last year, Prakash supported Deepika after the controversy. Sharing a news article, he had written on Twitter, "#Besharam BIGOTS.. So it’s okay when Saffron clad men garland rapists..give hate speech, broker MLAs, a Saffron clad swamiji rapes Minors, But not a DRESS in a film ?? #justasking (sic)." On the film's release date, he had also congratulated the Pathaan team, including actor John Abraham, on its record opening.

Shah Rukh's comeback vehicle has earned Rs 429.9 crore in 12 days at the domestic box office. The Siddharth Anand directorial has grossed Rs 832.20 crore worldwide, as per the film’s production house, Yash Raj Films.