HC to hear plea against Shah Rukh’s film trailer on Nov 30

Mumbai, November 19

The Bombay High Court has posted for hearing on November 30 a petition filed against actor Shah Rukh Khan and makers of the film ‘Zero’, claiming that the movie’s trailer has hurt sentiments of the Sikh community.

Amritpal Singh Khalsa, an advocate, had filed the petition earlier this month, seeking a direction to the film’s director and producers to delete the scenes where lead actor Khan is seen wearing a ‘kirpan’ (a sword or small dagger carried by Sikhs).

The petition also sought a direction to the Central Board for Film Certification (CBFC) not to grant certification to the movie or to revoke it if it had already been given.

Khalsa on Monday mentioned the petition before a division bench of Justices BP Dharmadhikari and SV Kotwal which posted it for hearing on November 30.

The petition refers to the film’s trailer in which Khan is seen wearing a vest and shorts, with a garland of Rs 500 notes around his neck and a ‘kirpan’ in gatra tied diagonally across his body.

Khalsa took exception to this scene and referred to the historical and cultural importance of ‘kirpan’, saying it is worn after taking ‘rehat maryada’ (conversion to Sikhism). PTI