Troubles continue for Shah Rukh Khan’s Pathaan as Indian Ulema Board demands the film’s name be changed: ‘We will fight a legal battle and also file an FIR’

• Mohnish Singh
• 16 December, 2022

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By: Mohnish Singh

The makers of the upcoming Bollywood film Pathaan would have not imagined in their wildest dreams that their film would land into trouble even before they release its theatrical trailer for the audience to watch. After releasing the official teaser of the film on the leading star Shah Rukh Khan’s birthday on November 2, the makers dropped the first song of the film on December 12. The song went viral on social media but not for all the right reasons.

Titled “Besharam Rang,” the song features Khan and the leading lady Deepika Padukone. The saffron-coloured outfit that Padukone has worn in the song has stirred controversy as a segment of the audience feels it is hurting their religious sentiments.

After Dr. Narottam Mishra, who is the home minister of the Indian state of Maharashtra, demanded certain changes in the song, the MP Ulema Board has also jumped into the controversy objecting to the film’s release.

On Thursday, the president of the MP Ulema Board, Sayed Anas Ali, while speaking to ANI, said, “This film has hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community. We will not allow this film to be released, not just in Madhya Pradesh but across the country.” According to the reports, they have raised objections to the release of Pathaan in the state.

He further added, “The Pathans are one of the most respectable Muslim communities. Not just the Pathans but the entire Muslim community is being defamed in this film. The name of the film is Pathaan, and women are seen performing obscene dances in it. Pathans are being portrayed wrongly in the film”.

He also said, “The makers should remove the name, Pathaan. Shah Rukh Khan should change the name of his character. After that, do whatever you want. But we will not allow this film to be released in India. We will fight a legal battle and also file an FIR.”

Fronted by Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, and John Abraham, Pathaan is directed by Siddharth Anand and produced by Aditya Chopra under the banner of Yash Raj Films. The action-thriller is slated to hit cinemas on January 25, 2023.