Shahrukh Khan pens his agony of 'Being a Khan'
Perhaps in one of his most candid confession, Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan has revealed what does it mean to be a Muslim in the post-9/11 world. Shahrukh Khan, popularly known as SRK, has also said that many politicians had asked him to return back to his "native homeland".
In a first person account titled "Being a Khan" for Outlook Turning Points magazine, published in association with The New York Times newspaper, the 47-year-old actor has poured out his agony to the readers.
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.
Perhaps in one of his most candid confession, Bollywood superstar Shahrukh Khan has revealed what does it mean to be a Muslim in the post-9/11 world. Shahrukh Khan, popularly known as SRK, has also said that many politicians had asked him to return back to his "native homeland".
In a first person account titled "Being a Khan" for Outlook Turning Points magazine, published in association with The New York Times newspaper, the 47-year-old actor has poured out his agony to the readers.
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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