It’s a sword, not a Kirpan: Zero makers tell Court over Shah Rukh Khan’s alleged controversial poster

By Bollywood Reporter

on November 30, 2018

Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming film Zero mired itself in a controversy after an advocate filed a petition, objecting to a particular poster of the film, alleging that it hurt the religious sentiments of the Sikh community. The makers of Zero, however, told the Bombay High Court while it was hearing the petition on November 30, that Shah Rukh is seen holding a sword in the poster of Zero and not a Kirpan (small dagger), a Sikh religious symbol.

The poster in question has also offended the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC), which claimed that the ‘objectionable’ scene in Zero has allegedly hurt the sentiments of the Sikhs, and ended up sending a legal notice to the makers.

[caption id="attachment_173977" align="aligncenter" width="647"] SRK in a poster of Zero.[/caption]

Red Chillies Entertainment, thereafter, moved the Delhi High Court on Thursday against the legal notice sent by the DSGMC. In the caveat, the Bollywood production house has requested the court not to take any action without informing and hearing the submission of the company.

The DSGMC has alleged that in the promo and poster, Shah Rukh has been shown in undergarments and holding the ‘Gatka Kirpan’.

Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Party MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa, who is also the DSGMC General Secretary, asked Zero director Aanand L. Rai and Shah Rukh to remove the “objectionable” scene from the movie and urged Delhi Police to lodge a complaint against the two for “hurting” the sentiments of the Sikhs.

[caption id="attachment_173978" align="aligncenter" width="479"] SRK in a still from the trailer of Zero.[/caption]

Directed by Aanand L Rai, Zero casts Shah Rukh Khan as a vertically-challenged man and co-stars Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif. Zero is scheduled to release on December 21.