SRK vs.Sena:What's the Real Deal?

Before you read this, here's a small piece of advice: please read it with an open mind and do not jump to conclusions. I am just giving my point of view on a incident here, not supporting or opposing anyone.

The media had been hooked over the past few days on the face-off between SRK-Shiv Sena.Shah Rukh had said on a news channel Pakistani players should participate in the IPL (after they were ignored by the franchises in the auction) and that Mumbai is for all.This is something the Sena found very offensive and wanted a public apology from Shah Rukh.When he refused, Shiv Sena threatened to disrupt the release of his film, My Name Is Khan causing a nation-wide uproar against the Sena.The media had vociferously thrown their weight behind Shah Rukh.

But seriously, I think there is a lot more to it than can be perceived by us.The Shiv Sena had been sticking to their Mumbai for Maharashtrians agenda for a long time.However, until now Shah Rukh had never spoken up against them.Secondly, Shah Rukh himself owns an IPL team.If he really feels Pak players shouldn't have been ignored why didn't he himself bid for any of them.I am not saying he doesn't mean what he had said, it's just that he had timed this very conveniently.Shah Rukh's movie My Name Is Khan is approaching it's worldwide release .It's a movie with some globally relevent issues.Hence Shah Rukh needed to project a politically correct image before the media while promoting the film.Thus, he came out in support of Pakistani players when even his own team had ignored them!!The Shiv Sena's anti-Shah Rukh campaign actually gave him free hype and promotion before the film's release.This is of course being seen as a violation of right to freedom of speech and expression by the nation(and truly so).Hence, Shah Rukh had earned the sympathy of the entire nation and the media before the film's release.The issue had unprecedented coverage by the media.A classic case was he being mobbed by journalists after he came out of the airport.Many people had said that they will watch the movie just to violate the Sena!!Wow, publicity stunts marna koi Bollywood se sekhe!!!

Having said all that, I must acknowledge the fact that finally a celebrity had actually had the courage to take an open stand on an important issue.Shah Rukh has shown that if a public figure of his stature takes a correct stand against a bunch of extremist cavemen then the nation is bound to support him.A lot of Bollywood stars have also finally supported Shah Rukh and felt the need to speak up against undemocratic practices. Each time a public figure(for eg. Sachin Tendulkar speaks up against some political bullies(in this case, again the Sena) they get another reason to start barking and see it as an opportunity to make their prescence felt by pursuing some aggresive political campaign.However, in this case even though they did get noticed, it was full-on negative publicity.Probably, even the Marathi Manoos won't like them for disrupting Shah Rukh's film.So, even though he might have some added 'incentive', kudos to Shah Rukh for doing what's right.

Well, before ending I must say if you think I am a bit anti-SRK it's absolutely wrong.I am a hardcore Shah Rukh fan and am keenly looking forward to his next movie, not out of sympathy but because I think it will be good movie.