Abu Dhabi: Despite a storm brewing in Mumbai over Shah Rukh Khan's recent cricketing statements, there was no shortage of love for the Bollywood star in the capital on Wednesday as he joined his My Name Is Khan co-star and director for the world premiere of his new film.
Hundreds of screaming fans greeted Bollywood heavyweight Khan, leading lady Kajol and director Karan Johar as they walked the red carpet before a screening of the much-anticipated release, which reunites Khan, Kajol and Johar after nine years.
In an interview with Gulf News earlier in the day, Khan said he was saddened by the irony of threats made by Mumbai-based political party Shiv Sena to attack cinemas in the city scheduled to show the film.
"It will be very sad if a movie which starts in Mumbai does not get shown in Mumbai," he said.
Point of view
Shiv Sena is reacting to a comment Khan made over the exclusion of Pakistani players from the IPL.
"I have never thought of taking up agendas while talking about my films, my religion, my nationality or my children," he said.
"It is my ideology and it is my personal point of view. And anything that gets picked from what I am saying by a group of politicians is their point of view towards me."
Though he stuck to his comments, he regretted dragging the My Name Is Khan team into the furore.
By evening, however, the focus was purely on the magic of cinema as Kajol and Johar's joint appearance elicited cheers from the crowd that had gathered at Emirates Palace.
A solo Khan, who arrived later, threw the crowd into a frenzy. He said the team's association went beyond filmmaking.
"We are like one big happy family and we hope to entertain with this film. I hope people will come out happier and strive to be better human beings after watching this," he said.
1,400 sena men held
Mumbai Police on Wednesday detained more than 1,400 members of a regional political party to prevent attacks on cinemas ahead of the release of Shah Rukh Khan's film, My Name Is Khan.
The Hindu hardline party Shiv Sena went on the rampage two days before the release of the film despite Mumbai Police assuring the public of security cover at the 63 Mumbai cinemas and multiplexes scheduled to show the movie starting tomorrow.
Minister of State for Home Ramesh Bagwe was quoted by PTI as saying that "advance bookings of the movie have started again after police intervened in the matter and ensured tight security to all theatres."
Chief Minister Ashok Chavan promised that the film's release will not be disrupted.
"I appeal to the people of Maharashtra to go and watch the film and not to be scared by such threats. In fact, I am also going to watch the movie," he said.
The Sena stepped up its protest over Khan's remarks favouring inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the Indian Premier League.
