After starring in a string of films that have the most improbable plotlines, Bollywood badshah Shahrukh Khan takes on the gritty, realistic side of cinema with My Name is Khan.
Nothing much was known about the plot but on Monday King Khan let slip a bit of information to the media about his new film. Shahrukh revealed that his character in My name is Khan is named Rizwaan Khan who is autistic Indian Muslim in the US. Unlike Yash Raj's latest New York, My name is Khan is not about cops and terrorists.
According to SRK, "My Name Is Khan is the most special film for both Karan Johar and me. And unlike the rumors, it’s not about terrorism, or 9/11. It’s about a relationship between two people, between an individual and the State, and between an individual and the country. In short, there the three important components: love story, Islam and a mild form of autism, which forms the core of MNIK."
But why the name 'Khan'? Couldn't director Karan Johar have picked an 'Ali' or a 'Salim'? Is King Khan promoting himself? SRK laughs saying, “Then I could have made My Name is Shah Rukh. Right? So, no, this is not a self-promotion vehicle. Please do not trivialize or deflect from the intention of the subject. The name of the Movie is relevant to the story that Karan and screenplay writer Shibani Bhatija have visualized.”
Although the movie is already is post production, My name is Khan hits cinemas in February 2010 and will be one of the biggest Bollywood releases ever. After last year's losing battle against Ghajini, King Khan did not wish to get in the way of Aamir's certified bonanza '3 Idiots'. Karan Johar's previous vehicle KANK did not exactly set the box office on fire, but My name is Khan certainly seems like a gargantuan hit.
Karan Johar’s next offering My Name is Khan touches on a sensitive topic – the plight of normal Muslims after September 11 bombings in America.
The film stars King Khan, Shah Rukh Khan and the bewitching Kajol who return as a pair since the super success of Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham.
Shah Rukh Khan and Kajol are paired as husband and wife. The story is set against post 9/11 tragedy. Shah Rukh Khan will play a Muslim who gets wrongly detained on a flight because his last name is Khan and hence the authorities think that must make him a terrorist?
“My Name is Khan” features six people with Muslim names who are viewed with suspicion and forced to endure extra security checks in international airports six years after the 9/11 attacks
Shah Rukh Khan says the movie touches him personally.
“Internationally, if you have a Muslim surname, you might be considered a terrorist,” the Indian Muslim actor told.”At London airport, every time I go, people recognize me, but they see my second name, and they give me an extra checking.”
Shah Rukh Khan, who acted in more than 50 movies, remembers that before 9/11 his famous name used to facilitate things for him and his movie crew at airports. Not anymore.
“Earlier, my assistant Subhash used to be stopped, because of the way he looks, so I used to say ok, I will take your bags, it is better for me.”These days, I am the one who’s stopped, so it’s okay, he carries my bags for me,” Khan laughed.
He argues that this kind of discrimination does not happen in Hindu-majority India. “It is really stupid even to imagine that such kind of differentiation happens in India,” said the Bollywood star.”It is most secular and there is no difference between a Khan and a Kumar here.”
