"Deepika Is Amar, I'm Akbar, John Is Anthony": Shah Rukh Khan breaks silence on hatred the film received before its release

• Image Credit: Google

• Jan 31, 2023 | Dhupali Das

The "team Pathaan" was speaking at an event organized by the production banner Yash Raj Films in Mumbai on Monday...

Digital Desk: Shah Rukh Khan compared himself and his Pathaan co-stars Deepika Padukone and John Abraham to the characters from Manmohan Desai's 1977 classic "Amar Akbar Anthony," stressing the message of unity.

"This is Deepika Padukone, and she is Amar; I am Shah Rukh Khan, and I am Akbar; and this is John Abraham, and he is Anthony. This is what defines cinema. Tony and Amar Akbar. There are no distinctions that any of us have for anyone. Whatever the culture or way of life. We think about you, which is why we make movies. You love us because we love you. Give us love; we're seeking it," said Shah Rukh Khan at a live session on Monday in which Team Pathaan addressed the media on the massive success of their film.

The actors are just playing roles and not attempting to damage anyone's sentiments, claimed the superstar, adding that the objective of movies is to "spread happiness, fraternity, love, kindness".

"To be honest, when we make films, whether in the north, south, east, or west, our goal is to spread happiness, fraternity, love, and kindness... Even when I'm playing a bad guy in 'Darr,' or when John is bad in this film... We are merely playing roles. None of this is meant to offend anyone. It is only for entertainment purposes," he stated.

Pathaan, starring Shah Rukh Khan, is now on its sixth day of release and continues to dominate the box office. The action-thriller has grossed more than 500 crores worldwide. It opened in over 100 countries on 8,000 screens, the most of any Hindi film.

"We must keep our culture, our old stories, and everything else that has poured into this lovely land that is India. We must narrate the tales in modern, novel ways. And we are not mocking anyone when we inform them in various ways. We are merely attempting to speak the altered language of young people," the superstar said.

The song Besharam Rang caused some controversy because of Deepika's outfits and there were protests ahead of the film's release.

The 57-year-old singer called his fans as his safe haven and said that greeting them from his balcony gives him strength. Shah Rukh Khan stated that his fans love him regardless of whether his films are successful or not.

"When something doesn't work, I'm supposed to go to those who love me. I am extremely blessed to have millions of people that love me.  When I am happy, I come to my balcony, when I am sad, I come to the balcony," he said, adding an SRK flourish – "I am fortunate to have been given a permanent balcony ticket," said SRK.

Pathaan is Shah Rukh Khan's first film in a prominent role after Zero in 2018.