‘Being A Khan’ by Shahrukh Khan (excerpts)

Shahrukh Khan on the cover of Outlook Turning Points magazineYesterday, we published the cover of Shahrukh Khan’s Outlook magazine, which hit news stands across India on Monday.

The magazine features a write-up by Shahrukh on ‘what it means to be a Muslim in the Post 9/11 world’.

Below are some excerpts from the article titled “Being a Khan”

  • I sometimes become the inadvertent object of political leaders who choose to make me a symbol of all that they think is wrong and unpatriotic about Muslims in India. There have been occasions when I have been accused of bearing allegiance to our neighbouring nation (Pakistan) rather than my own country – this even though I am an Indian, whose father fought for the freedom of India. Rallies have been held where leaders have exhorted me to leave and return what they refer to my ‘original’ homeland
  • I gave my son and daughter names that could pass for generic (pan-India and pan-religious) ones – Aryan and Suhana. The Khan has been bequeathed by me so they can’t really escape it. I pronounce it with my epiglottis when asked by Muslims and throw the Aryan as evidence of their race when non-Muslims enquire. I imagine this will prevent my offspring from receiving unwarranted eviction orders or random fatwas in the future
  • SRK also added that he became so sick of being mistaken for some crazed terrorist, “who co-incidentally carries the same name as mine that I made a film subtly titled ‘My Name Is Khan’ (and I am not a terrorist) to prove a point.”
  • Ironically, I was interrogated at the airport for hours about my last name when I was going to promote the film in America for the first time.
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51 Comments

  • No matter whether the people hate you or love you they will never be able to ignore you SRK.

    And we promise that we will support you till the end unlike some people that switched over to some other people!!Later all these people will also show you the respect that we give you and realize that they made a mistake!!!

  • Its sad how some narrow-minded people question his originality? We indians should feel lucky that foreign people know & respect India only because of this one man- Shah Rukh Khan

  • Really touchy lines from a superstar.
    I too realize this fact, that SRK is the most wrongly interpreted superstar in India.
    anyway, again he has proved that he doesn’t make any movie just for an economical success.
    Despite of it, he made movies according to what his heart says.
    The best examples are CDI (due to his love for hockey in his college days),Ra-one (for his childs) and now MNIK.
    Hats off to you KING KHAN.

  • @ayushsrk.Definitely bro.Anything in this world can’t change my loyality towards SRK and second thing i know very well is that SRK fans are not like fog, which stayed at its peak during nights and early morning.But once the rays of sun came out, they disappear.
    I guess, you will understand my intention…:)

  • Dear Shahrukh, If you are reading this…. I am an Indian. My religion is hinduism. But you are my only hero….. And India is shining bright in world stage for you…. We are all proud of you! Dont feel sad.

  • How many years ,he wants to sustain with these kind of sentimental and emotional speeches? How many times does he want to talk about religion?

    He is losing his credibility.

  • Its a big shame on those who question this man who has put the name of Bollywood on the world map… Before that, no one ever knew bollywood existed.. this is the hard truth whether one likes it or not..

    SRK is a great inspiration for each one of us.. Unlike some so called being human who is using charity as a means to hide his terroist links with Dawood Ibrahim, SRK is the only true Patriot..

    Hats off to you King, we will support till our last breath. Keep rocking King, Keep Rocking Jaan.

  • I hate SRK because of his comments on supporting pakistani players in IPL, immediately after the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai. He didn’t realise his mistake and continues to do the same.

  • I’m a muslim and I’m very very proud be an Indian.. I feel more safe and free as a muslim in India, than a Pakistani muslim.. I love my India..

  • aamir khan was in america for 4 months for shooting “dhoom 3”. he did not speak a single word but this man srk goes there for only 1 day and starts shouting everywhere for publicity.

  • i am not srk but a salman fan but i honestly want to say something here is that even i hate those people who accuse him of being terrorist or pakistani.

    i can understand the pain he showing in his words because i am a muslim myself, living in US too. recently there was an incident in queens, new york, where i LIVE and i want share with you guys if indicine post my comment.

    i live in queen and recently there was a subway train incident took place before new year, a spanish lady pushed a hindu guy on the railway track infront of seven train and he died. she pushed him because she thought he was a muslim. she said she taking 9/11 revenge and she got arrested. you guys can google this article if you get to see my coment. this tussle b/w srk vs salman i just take it as a fun and argue with srk fans becuase i believe we indians are brother whether you are muslim or hindu but when it com some hatred like this than i will be first one to support srk. i know how it feels that after promoting your film and come back to home and your daughter ask you that do they have to leave india. i guess thats why even salman supported srk in this.

    i have said this not to please any srk fan but to share with you guys what i feel about this issue being a muslim.

  • yes sir, your strong demand for the inclusion of some paki players into your kkr team (may be probably for match fixing, every one knows they are most sincere,loyal match-fixers and well, what is more left to say about srk, if one can ‘fix’ a filmfare award then fixing a simple t 20 match is not a big deal) after the most ghastly,atrocious,sadistic and inhumane 26/11 mumbai terror attacks shows your TRUE PATRIOTISM.

    according to your fans you are a the most popular superstar on this dharti with more than 3.5 billion fans but unfortunately the people who detained you at an US airport were not from those 3.5 billion people. i think more than anything you probably might have over-reacted there with them as the way you normally do on-the-reel and off-the-reel. we Indians ourselves can’t bear your over-acting then how would those gora ‘officials with brain’ at the air port could have tolerated your DRAMA & NAUTANKI. choti moo lekin badi baath ye hai ki ‘for fools their arrogance is their biggest identity’.

  • It’s time SRK let’s his movies do all the talking. He is a movie star above all and with each outing, the quality of his films is quickly deteriorating.

    He is more in news for all his various controversies than box office collections. And he has a few smart tricks to gain the sympathy of his fans and audience.

    First, he talks about the minority of his religion. Completely ignoring the fact that, over a billion Indians (mostly Hindus) have given him demi-god status.

    Two, when he got caught in the Mumbai cricket stadium controversy.. drunk and abused a poor harmless security guard, he smartly took the back seat and said they misbehaved with his daughter. Daughter/women is his other sympathy gaining trick.

    Three, before the release of his film MNIK, he went to US and was detained at the airport. He made a big deal out of it. For those who are unaware, Salman and Aamir too have been detained but never used the media to gain publicity.

    Four, Shirish Kunder incident.. Noone knows was happened behind closed doors, but it was evident from the pics that SRK was drunk. No man has the right to slap or physically abuse anyone else, come what may. It’s an offence. Poor Shirish became the butt of all jokes.

    With the media in his pocket and some die hard fans who don’t blink and eye lid before abusing anyone that says anything against him, SRK has slowly started to believe that he can get away with anything he does.

    I used to be a big fan of his. Not anymore.

  • Shahrukh… Indians dont deserve a superstar like you. Come to Pakistan and act in movies here. We will love you and give you the respect you deserve.

  • @sunil. you hit the bull’s eye and let me also add that more than srk as a actor, srk as a person is going to new lows.. but his blind fans can’t see his true colors. if any one evaluates srk with an open mind & a neutral heart, they will know the reality.

    mind you i don’t mean to say that salman or others actors are saints, every one is a human.

  • @NVS.Yaar.We all are taking it as an enjoyment while making this fan war among us.But i haven’t seen such an inferior guy like you on indicine.sorry for my words, but it’s baffling for me that still you are talking like a SRK hater.
    I recommend you to read the words of this article properly and realize if u did any mistake.But i don’t think that you will accept bcoz you are perfect in your eyeviews.
    but i strongly recommend you to read the comment made by “ahmed”, a diehard fan of salman.
    He has shown that irrespective of the fan war, he will stand for the huminity first.
    but i am sorry dude,The narrowminded guys like you are the only responsible for this communal disease in our country.
    I don’t know , you are HINDU or a MUSLIM, but i am a HINDU and what i know is i will always stand with my MUSLIM frnds (as i have a lot).
    And you have mentioned that SRK was detained at USA airport.
    Do you know the reason behind it…..?????

    THE ONE AND ONLY REASON WAS THAT HE WAS A MUSLIM.

    So, i don’t think that it should be a matter for you guys (SRK haters) to get ecstatic, but it was a case related to the dignity of millions of muslims worldwide.But i am again saying that for you , critisizing SRK is the very first priority .Thats why you appear on his pages more than salman pages.
    Again i am condemning your comment and i will request (as a wellwisher), that plz grow up your mind.
    I know you will get outraged on me, but frnd, i said what i feel.
    And i am sorry, if u hurt.

  • So here are the results of the top 15 Bollywood actors of all time according to the poll conducting by NDTV. I must say, I am surprised but not shocked by the results! :) Especially by the jump in percentage from number 2 to number 1!

    Your thoughts?
    ———————————————

    A century of Cinema and the one man who has gone through multiple evolutions has been the ‘Hero’, with each decade representing a new facet to his larger than life persona. Here at NDTV, we conducted a viewer poll on their top 15 popular heroes in the last 100 years of Bollywood. And the results, least to say, were astounding!

    1. Shah Rukh Khan 52.29%
    2. Aamir Khan 13.21%
    3. Salman Khan 11.85%
    4. Amitabh Bachchan 10.15%
    5. Dilip Kumar 3.11%
    6. Ajay Devgan 2.51%
    7. Ranbir Kapoor 1.61%
    8. Dev Anand 1.21%
    9. Dharmendra 1%
    10. Rajesh Khanna 0.6%
    11. Shami Kapoor 0.6%
    12. Rishi Kapoor 0.45% (tie)
    12. Shashi Kapoor 0.45% (tie)
    13. Sanjeev Kapoor 0.4% (tie)
    13. Manoj Kumar 0.4% (tie)
    14. Raj Kapoor 0.35%
    15. Sunil Dutt 0.34% (tie)
    15. Ashok Kumar 0.34% (tie)

    http://www.ndtv.com/video/special/bollywood-100-top-actors-750/234718

  • @sunil.Bro.You are not an SRK fan anymore.Thats cool.Everyone has his own choice and one should respect it.
    But you are no one to talk about majority or minority.You have a problem that he only talked about his religion and dumped the hindus.In this way , you are trying to create a communal conflict here.
    I am a hindu and i didn’t find anything wrong in it, then why do you…???
    The reason is simple.You guys are still narrowminded.We are in 21st century yaar.
    Plz leave all these emotional atyachaars.It suites on our politicinas not on us.

    Second thing, You told that Aamir and salman are also detained , but they didn’t make an issue.
    Then i am asking it to you, why…???
    If a superstar like aamir and salman talks about it publically and condemn it strongly, then don’t you think that it will create awareness…???
    If SRK has taken it seriously , then whats wrong in it???
    Afterall , it is related to millions of muslims throughout the world.
    And do you know, why he made MNIK.Just for attracting the whole world towards this communal disease.
    But you guys will get it as a publicity stunt, but when a superstar comes to media and talks about the financial condition of a well known photographer (that he needs help), then you will take that superstar as a prophet.At that time, you will ignore all the facts, that why did he come publically.
    What was the problem that he didn’t help directly instead of making such drama.

    So, think about it dude and as far as i am concerned, i am proud on SRK, that he thinks so much about his peoples and about his image.

  • @king. Dude, once see your comment at 9:17 p.m, “unlike some so called being human who is using charity as a means to hide his terrorist links with dawood ibrahim”. Only after seeing this comment of yours, i commented on this page otherwise i wouldnt even care. What was the need for you to make this foolish baseless allegation and this very comment of your’s made me angry enough to write what i wrote. Even i can allege that srk helped osama bin laden financially through his dubai circles and since salman is his arch rival, srk is playing dirty politics by making his personal friend dawood to trap salman.

  • @king. If you think that i am an inferior then i dont see you being any superior to me in anyway. Typical srk fan’s natural arrogance. And why are you trying to create a mini communal rift here between my hindu brothers & muslim brothers? Did i anywhere say anything bad against any religion or any community? I very well know that srk was detained at the us airport because his name was some ‘khan’. That’s ok, but your superstar should know that he is only a actor and not a p.m or president of india to get a vvip treatment in u.s. and that a security check was being done very seriously there and everyone has to cooperate with the officials. Do you know that our former president and one of my inspirations abdul kalam sir, inspite of having diplomatic immunity went through such checks not once but many times and even then didnt make a fuss about it or create a drama like your superstar. Your superstar didnt cooperate with the officials at the airport and created some ‘drama’ for which he was detained for nearly 3 hours. And why this drama? For free publicity, the media’s darling that he was, got the much needed cheap publicity. Even aamir & salman went frisked at many airports but did they ever create a tamasha like your superstar? Dude i know your are trying this dirty trick of trying to create some negativity about me by bringing this communal issue here, but those who know me well on indicine and the indicine team themselves will tell you that i am not such a kind of person. I felt that you were the only intelligent srk fan on the indicine but after posting such insensible comments on sensitive issues like religion, you have proved me wrong.

  • @NVS.dude.That was not my comment.Check it again.It is made by a fan called “star”.
    But why did you take that comment so seriously.star had not mentioned anyone’s name in his comment.Then why you are getting angry ???
    But you have blamed SRK in a very wrong way , which was so informal.

  • @NVS.You have given a number of examples of people , who were detained in America like Abdul kalam, salman and aamir.So, if they can detained, then why not SRK..???
    Is it a big deal for him…???
    But you said in your comment that the person, who detained SRK was not among those 3.5 millions (SRK fans).Dude, it’s not about popularity or anything, it’s just about their security concern.
    They didn’t differentiate b/w any celebrity and general people, when they find any type of breach regarding their security.
    And you urself admitted in your second comment, that it was a routine security check up.So, SRK created a meaningless drama on this issue.
    So, you can find the change in your wording, when you will carefully trace your first and second comment.
    As far as SRK’s drama (as per your view) is concerned, i already given an answer to a fan named “sunil”.
    Plz read that , and correct me , if i am wrong.

    Now, if you are making an allegation on me that i am trying to make some communal conflict here, then with due respect to you, i completely deny it.
    it’s just like a famous hindi saying “ULTA CHOR KOTWAL KO DAANTE”.

    We are in 21st century, but still some people are busy to incite the communal emotions of people.
    So, when INDICINE posted this article, then i was expecting that at this page, fans will keep their idol oneside and they only talk about the issues presented by SRK.
    But it was disappointing that instead of standing with a community, you again started blaming and critisizing.This act seems well when we are commenting on a movie review or any other page, but on such a sensitive issue, this behaviour is totally unexpected for me and thats why i replied you.

    And thanks for concidering me INTELLIGENT as i think i didn’t deserve this tag.
    But if you are going to snatch this tag from me , just because you think that i am trying to incite communal emotions, then i think you are wrong.Please think again about it and feel, whatever i said.

  • @NVS.I don’t need any trick to let you down.
    Why shall i….???
    I have no any interest to target you.
    Second thing, I commented on you because i find some sense in doing so.
    You can watch out my comments on indicine.I barely used to reply anyone’s comment,bczo i know that 70% of traffic on indicine is dirty minded.
    I don’t want to blame any particular actor or his fans, but some guys are disgusting.So, there is no meaning while arguing with them.I commented on your comment, bcoz i thought that i should correct you somewhere.If you feel bad, then i am sorry.But again i am saying that it was not my intention to let you down.

  • @king. I always had a doubt that the guy who uses the name ‘king’ & ‘star’ is the same person but here you have clarified that you are not that person and hence believing in your honesty, i apologise for this misjudgement & mistake on my part.

  • @king. Even that’s what i am asking, if a former president of india and a great person like abdul kalam sir, salman & aamir have no problem in getting checked and always whole heartedly cooperate with the security officials then why does an actor like srk has to have such a big ego problem and then make a huge cry for the fault of his own (in the same how he created a drama at the wankede stadium because of his own faults and then to escape, blamed the police that they misbehaved with his daughter but that wasnt the case at all). Everyone knows how publicity- hungry & publicity-seeking person srk is and if you deny this also then you are just another blind, unrealistic fan of srk. Had srk fully cooperated with the security officials and hadnt created that unnecessary drama then he wouldnt have been detained & questioned for so long and thanks to a indian diplomat who directly went to the airport and sorted out the issue otherwise he could have been detained for much longer. I read that The security officials were really angry with srk’s high-handed & arrogant behaviour at the airport, so much so that they decided not to apologise to him but it was because of the diplomatic pressure that they were forced to apologise later.

  • @king. Dude i always stand by the truth and the truth is that srk is a fake pretentious person who will do anything for his selfish purposes. During the release of mnik, he could have avoided many cheap controversies but he knew that if he ignites this communal indifference he would gain a lot of sympathy & support and can exploit the situation to his advantage but we know what happened to that movie in india. Such cheap tactics dont work for a good movie like mnik, and by openly supporting the paki players & taking on bal thackrey he ‘cheaped’ himself more. Dude, as a srk fan you have every right so defend srk but that doesnt mean that you should overlook some hard truths or realities. I know after seeing these comments you will dislike & disrespect me more but that will not stop me from saying whatever i want to say as long as i stay in my limits & dont cross the line. We could argue & debate like this for eternity and even then we may not come to a mutual understanding. I know i hurt you & some other readers with some of my comments and i am sorry for that but “i may only hurt when i get hurt”.

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