‘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

  • I am a salman fan but wont hate SRK for this… I loved srk acting in Mohabbatein.. Its bcoz of his fans like star, Noam, Sahir n kame_ena king people hate srk… Humanity has no religion.. !!!!

  • @NVS first u must know what is fact nd then talk abt it. talking abt mnik issue, it was started by shiv sena and if anythng, mnik lost a gd amnt of money bcoz of ban. i undersnd u hav a point of view, bt dnt claim dat whatever u r saying is fact. ur coment suggests dat u r a srk hater, so if a fan can b blind 4 his idol, i believ same rule could b applied 2 a hater.

  • @NVS.You are wrong bro.If you are thinking that after reading your comment , i will start disliking you, then i think you are misjudging me.
    I always respect other’s view as well as i respect the feelings of each person on this page.
    So, i am not going to dislike you just because you critisized SRK.
    But one thing i will definitely say, that you seem more like a SRK hater than a salman fan.
    I don’t know , i am right or not.May be, it’s my misconception about you.
    But i said, whatever i thought about you.
    But as an indicine reader, i always appreciate healthy conversations irrespective of the fact, that who is the idol of the person sitting opposite side.

  • @NVS.This is totally wrong allegation that SRK has ignited the communal conflict just for taking the advantage of his own movie.
    The fact is, SRK has produced MNIK just for making an awareness.
    Bcoz after 9/11, there was a huge discontentment among americans against MUSLIMS.
    Each MUSLIM was paying for that offence, which was done by a fistful of terrorists.
    Keeping these things in mind, SRK and KJo worked on the script of MNIK.
    And as i said earlier, SRK rarely produce a movie for commercial success.
    Instead of it, he listens , what his heart says.
    The best examples are swades,CDI and MNIK.

  • @Nihal.Dude.You are not supposed to talk in this way.If you have a problem with my comments, then you can directly talk to me.But including me indirectly in your comments, i don’t think it’s fair.
    What do you think that saying some bad words about me or mentioning my name will hide the truth…???
    I know, you are a SRK hater and you are saying such things only for gaining sympathy.
    Just grow up yaar.

  • Nice king… Now am your fan too.. after shahrukh, your speaking ability and comments are superb. Hats off buddy!

  • @ANAND. do you know why shiv sena protested against srk and tried to ban mnik ? first know that and then comment. just because srk is your idol, whatever cheap controversies he creates should not blind you such an extent that he is a messiah.

  • @king, thanks for clarifying that you are not me… and for NVS(whatever that stands for), just remember one thing dude, for 20 years fans of a certain being human were hiding in a mole hill when their star had hit disastrous lows which no star has ever seen… so when the star is seeing his good days, i expected his fans to be like SRK fans who were humble for 20 years when SRK meant box-office..

    Instead his moronic fans go around barking like dogs and don’t miss a single occasion to downgrade SRK and this is what i hate… So wait for the day when SRK again does well and then see.. Love SRK my Jaan.

  • I dont think there is anything left to add on this debate that hasnt already been said by both parties except for that My Name Is Not Khan (no offence intended) and I have no real idea as to what my muslim friends get subjected to when they visit the USA.
    However I have studied at Brunel University in UK afew years back and I met and still keep in touch with many muslim friends from the UK and middle east. Their experiences of visiting the UK for the first time and then the US are very contrasting. When I first arrived at Heathrow airport, there were so many Desi people that it felt reassuring. But my friends say that at JFK airport there were less Desi people so they felt customs was less welcoming. My view is that I believe being a muslim for them going to the US would be more daunting than visiting the UK for example. But muslims and non muslims though do understand that officials at airports are just doing a job so they have no qualms about the extra checks and delay.
    @NVS People can hate me but I felt this at the time and I still will say that the SRK incident before the release of MNIK was a publicity stunt and it worked as MNIK did great business in the US and other western countrirs because of it. Media lapped up the incident so kudos to SRK and KJo on that innovative scheme. Thats my view on that incident and I think most muslims just accept that extra security and interrogation as a necessity and would say that aslong as airports and flights are safe then we all benefit from it.

  • @shams Glad to know that poll by NDTV has made your year complete now and you can go through each day with a big smile on your face because SRK is the greatest hero of them all. God bless you my friend.

  • @king. dude, i want to tell you that you are the only srk fan on indicine who is not only intelligent, sensible but also kind & humble (so rare for a srk fan). To you, I may appear more as a SRK HATER than a SALMAN FAN, but i want to make it clear to all that i only dislike srk and i have my own infinite reasons and those reasons are strong enough for me to dislike him. i do respect srk but i dislike like him as well (even i hate the evil ravana but i respect him for what he actually was). May be srk needs some more fans like you on indicine to lessen the hatred that is targeted towards him, for most of the people simply don’t like him and his fans are simply unbearable. I will try my best not to comment on any srk’s page as long as the comments like the one made by that guy ‘star’ are not made but knowing how srk fans are, that would seem just inconceivable.

  • @Damnn.Thanks dude for appreciating me. :-)

    @star.I am not able to get, why people misinterpretated us as same.
    Any way, now this issue has been resolved.

    @NVS.Thanks dude.I will try my best to make each and every conversation on this page, a healthy one.
    And i am sure that if we continue to put our thoughts in such a calm way (as you and other fans did here), then a healthy conversation will not be a big deal for us.Again thanks.

  • @NVC nicely argued my friend.
    @king Yeah good banter is nice, laughing is a good medicine and reduces stress. Healthy debates between fans is also good and increases greater understanding of fans about different actors.

  • let me clear some points
    you guys claim that srk 2009 detention newyark airport was a publicity stunt for mnik but the incident happened before 6 months this is one
    second is why did they stop him in newyjersy inwhile he was attending YALE honoring why

    u guys dont know anything
    you said why only srk complained about the detention
    we tell you this is why we love srk he is brave he cant swalow the insult in his pocket like salman or amir
    he is shahrukh khan son of a lawyer who refused to do law because of corruption son of freedom-fighter shri taj mohamad khan and grandchild of chandra bose
    if srk didnt complain and did his movie no one would know what asian s muslims suffer in us european airports

  • @nvs why do u mix politics with sports like shiv sena

    if srk wanted pakistani players whats the big deal, shiv sena was deteriorating thats why it tried to target srk but it failed

    the old saying, the biggest symbols are always targeted

    here srk the greatest symbol is targeted by shiv sena to gain popularity look how trivial these morons.. where on earth have u heard that political party attacks a celebrity because he wanted players from another country

  • @NVS yes of course i knw, he said dat pakistani players( nt terorist) shld hav been givn a chance 2 play. remind u, he is an actor nd nt a politician, so i gues he was right by being diplomatic. even if u say he wasnt, he has the right 2 speak his mind. why shld any1 ask 4 apology?

  • I really proud myself to be a fan of SRK. He is the real actor, real human being. He acts really like what he feels in his heart. He is the undisputed KING of Indian Cinema. We Love u SRK… SRK Zindabaad <3

  • @NVS @Navin you both are baggers who baggings on every artical with SRK nam that plz do not like srk plz do not like SRK you are bigg lossers

  • @ali
    I think you meant to say ‘beggars’, ‘begging’ and ‘losers’.
    If I’m wrong then I really have no idea what you are trying to say my illiterate friend. Use spell check in future.

  • Dear Shahrukh
    As a viewer I dont like you as an actor. I think your whole carrier had been that of manipulation and scheming. But I do support your feelings (for being a muslim in this country).
    This is a complex problem and I do not think of any solution for another 100 yrs.
    This problem of muslims in India and even elsewhere in the world arises due to two facts.
    Fact no.1 Islam is the most intolerant, violent and rigid religion of this world. It was proclaimed not by scholars and literate persons but by a illiterate and tribal person. To date no effort has ever been to rationalize it decently according to modern times. Remember wherever there is Islam in the world there is violence and bloodshed.
    Fact no.2 People all over the world have always over reacted to the Islamic foolishness. One should understand that this has its origins in tribal badlands of Saudia. We have to be very tolerant to these people as they are millions in numbers.

  • Srk we All love u…nd we all know u r best of allll time…we all indians know whats the truth and what a nice and kind hearted person u r..we love u as a indian as a khan and as a actor equally so neva ever take some narrow minded people seriously..we all know that u r one of d best indian citizen..may.god bless people lyk u.. Wish u all the luck for chennai express..:-)..i’ll surely watch it as many times as i can.Nd remember we all.INDIANS R ALWAYS WID HIS BIGGEST SUPERSTAR OF ALL TIMES

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