A group affiliated with the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena has lashed out at Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan for not helping the drought-hit farmers of Maharashtra.
The MNS-affiliated Chitrapat Karmachari Sena on Monday appealed to people to boycott Shah Rukh Khan-starrer “Dilwale”, releasing this week, alleging that the actor “ignored the plight of farmers reeling under severe drought.”
“Farmers in Maharashtra, specially in Marathwada, are reeling under drought. Khan, who has been residing in the state and has made a lot of money, has not helped farmers in distress,” MNS Chitrapat Karmachari Sena chief Amey Khopkar told PTI.
Bollywood actor Shahrukh Khan | Source: Reuters/File Photo
“When his help is needed, he isn’t forthcoming,” Khopkar said. Asked if MNS will seek a ban on the film, he said, “We are not seeking a ban. We are only appealing people to boycott the film.”
“SRK is taking Maharashtra for granted,” he added.
One of Bollywood’s most popular on screen pairs — Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol — are reuniting on the big screen in Rohit Shetty’s “Dilwale”, releasing on December 18.
Shahrukh had donated an amount of Rs 1 crore to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s Relief Fund to help the state cope with the aftermath of Chennai floods.
This is the not the first time the Raj Thackeray-led MNS is at loggerheads with a Shah Rukh Khan film. In 2013, the party’s film unit had e xpressed displeasure over the reports that Rohit Shetty-directed movie Chennai Express had demanded prime slots in single cinemas across the state at the expense of some Marathi movies.
Feature image source: PTI/File Photo