In another random case of ‘we-need-to-be-in-the-limelight’, a local outfit in Odisha has threatened to throw ink on Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan for the film Asoka that he did 17 years ago. The fringe outfit, which calls itself Kalinga Sena, has demanded an apology from the actor for portraying emperor Ashoka in a bad light. Hemant Rath, the chief of the outfit, said that they will throw ink and wave black flags at the actor who is scheduled to visit Bhubaneshwar next week.
According to a report by PTI, the outfit had also filed a complaint with the police on November 1 alleging that Khan has hurt the sentiment of Odia people and dishonoured the state’s culture by portraying the Kalinga war in a wrong manner.
“We have made preparation to throw ink on the actor’s face and show him black flag at any place from the airport to the stadium. Our activists will remain present all along the road where Khan is likely to visit,” the press statement said. The outfit also held a protest rally on November 11 where they burned his effigy.
Shah Rukh Khan ( a file picture)
The film Asoka was based on the battle of Kalinga war (historical name of Odisha) in which emperor Ashoka successfully waged a battle against the Mauryan empire. Kalinga war is considered to be one of the most violent battles in the history of India because of which Ashoka had a change of heart. He later converted to Buddhism and took to non-violence. But the movie which was released in 2001 created a controversy in Odisha where it ran for just a week due to protests.
Meanwhile, Odisha Police have assured measures will be taken to ensure Shah Rukh Khan’s security so as to avoid any untoward incident. Khan is scheduled to be present at the inaugural ceremony of the Men’s Hockey World cup at Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar on November 27.
Recently, members of the Delhi Sikh Gurudwara filed a complaint against Shah Rukh Khan and the other makers of his upcoming film Zero, for the ‘incorrect depiction’ of a ‘Kirpaan’ as an ‘ordinary dagger’ that has apparently ‘hurt Sikh sentiments’.
