'Pathaan' director Siddharth Anand recently opened up about a section of the people calling for a boycott of Shah Rukh Khan's film. Addressing the row after the massive box office success of Pathaan, Siddharth Anand said that his film had nothing offensive and called it a ‘patriotic film.’
'Pathaan' made news when the film's song Besharam Rang showcasing Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika got released. While some expressed their displeasure with the lyrics of the songs, many political leaders protested against the outfits in the song, including Deepika's saffron bikini. Many were upset with the song for allegedly hurting their religious sentiments. This led to protests against the film in parts of India and boycott calls on social media as well.got
Talking to Variety, Siddharth said, “We’ve had lots of films with big stars that have come out post-pandemic and unfortunately, some of them haven’t worked. But the film has spoken and the film’s intentions have spoken. And the fact that it had nothing offensive, it’s such a patriotic film that it does inspire you.”
“That’s reached the audience – the audience is too smart to get fooled by fake boycott calls,” he further added.
Recently, it was Shah Rukh Khan who touched upon the subject during the first media interaction for Pathaan. He said, "Sabka maksad ek hi hota hai (Everyone has one motive). We should spread happiness, brotherhood, love, kindness, even when I'm playing a bad guy like [in] Darr. Even if I'm playing a Baazigar, even if John is being bad in a film. None of us are bad. We are all playing characters to make you happy. If we say things in the film, none of them are meant to hurt any sentiment or anybody. It is just entertainment."
"We love each other, we joke with each other. We have fun with each other. Fun, entertainment should be left at that. Don't take it more seriously. We all are one. All of us are loving each other and trying to make that love spread just to tell you in a very simple manner... this is Deepika Padukone, yeh Amar hain. Main Shah Rukh Khan hoon, main Akbar hoon. Yeh John hain, yeh Anthony hain. And this is what makes cinema," he also added.
Pathaan released on January 25. The film has collected Rs. 296 crore in Hindi in six days of its release.
