Photographs of Bollywood star Salman Khan flying kites with Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi during Sankranti might have won some brownie points for BJP’s PM hopeful, but it hasn’t gone down too well with political pressure groups in Hyderabad and now, the actor’s upcoming flick, 'Jai Ho', looks all set to have a troubled entry in the city.
Talking to DC, All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president and MP from Hyderabad, Asaduddin Owaisi, said, “I do not consider Salman Khan a Muslim at all. Naam rakh lene se koi Musalman nahi ho jata hai (a name does not make a Muslim). It is not a big deal if he flies kites with Narendra Modi… Our symbol is the ‘kite’. Let him fly kites in Gujarat with Modi… idhar dor hum katenge (we will cut the cord here)!”
The disgruntled leader added, “Salman knows only to jump and dance and hoard money. Recently, when poor people were suffering in Muzaffarnagar, at Saifai (the Uttar Pradesh government’s ill-timed celebrations featuring a host of Bollywood stars), he danced to the songs of his films and collected as much money as he could. These actors go everywhere and anywhere for money. For the sake of money they will do anything, at the drop of a hat.”
A source present at the jalsa revealed, “Asaduddin ne Salman ko bahut gali bhi di (Asaduddin cursed Salman a lot)… and he also told people not to buy tickets for his next film Jai Ho.”
Many of the star’s fans in Hyderabad have also decided to boycott his movie.
“We will change the name of his movie from 'Jai Ho' to Bye Ho,” declared an irate fan.
Ali Sheikh, a celebrity coach at Body Sculptures, Hyderabad, said, “He should change his name and stop misleading people that he is a Muslim. We will definitely not be watching his film, 'Jai Ho'.”
Salman, meanwhile, could not be reached for his comments. 'Jai Ho', also starring Daisy Shah in the lead, releases nationwide on January 24. The film’s a remake of the Telugu hit Stalin, which starred Chiranjeevi. It remains unclear what action the MIM is planning to boycott the screenings of the movie in Hyderabad.
