Madhya Pradesh Home Minister Narottam Mishra and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad demanded a change in the song. The Madhya Pradesh Ulema Board also sought a ban on the film for “misrepresenting Islam”.
Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone starrer 'Pathaan' is ready for release but seems controversy is not leaving the film as the posters of the film being vandalized in an Ahmedabad mall and members of the VHP and Bajrang Dal saying they would not allow its screening in Gujarat unless their problems over its song “Besharam Rang” are resolved.
Several videos circulating on social media showed VHP and Bajrang Dal members shouting slogans, tearing the film’s poster, and stomping on large cutouts of Pathaan, which also features Deepika Padukone and John Abraham, on Wednesday. While debate raged, team 'Pathaan' found support in filmmaker Rahul Dholakia and some others who condemned the vandalism.
Many are objecting Deepika Padukone's look in the song including the one in a saffron bikini.
“We want the makers of ‘Pathaan’ to remove the words ‘besharam rang’ from the song and also scenes where the actress is seen in a saffron dress in the song. We will not allow Pathaan’s screening in Gujarat if these two changes are not made. Though we are also against the movie’s title, because it propagates love jihad, our main demand at present is about that song,” Bajrang Dal’s north Gujarat president Jwalit Mehta said Gujarat VHP spokesperson Hitendrasinh Rajput added that “Besharam Rang” should ideally be dropped from the movie, reports Indian Expres.
While most people in the industry have not spoken on the controversy, Dholakia, who directed SRK in Raees, described the protest as “vandalism and hooliganism”.
He put out a tweet alongside a video of the protest.
Soon after the release of “Besharam Rang”, Dholakia said the hate attack that had been going on for years against Shah Rukh should “be condemned by one and all in the film industry”.
“SRK has contributed more to our fraternity and India as an ambassador of entertainment & cinema; than most people have. Please tell these bigots with idiotic theories to Shut Up,” Dholakia tweeted.
Previously, CBFC chairperson Prasoon Joshi said the committee has guided the makers to implement the advised changes in the film “including the songs and submit the revised version prior to theatrical release”.