Zero makers clarify in response to complaint filed for hurting Sikh religious sentiments

Shah Rukh Khan starrer Aanand L Rai’s upcoming film Zero was recently in a bit of trouble, when immediately after its grand trailer launch on the superstar’s birthday, Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (DSGMC) General Secretary Manjinder Singh Sirsa on Monday filed a criminal complaint against Shah Rukh and others for hurting religious sentiments of the Sikh community in the Zero promo by showing the actor wearing Kirpan in one of the sequences. The makers have now issued an official statement which reads that the film or the makers have no intention of hurting any religious sentiments. They also clarified that SRK is not wearing a ‘Gatra Kirpan’ (Article of Sikh Faith), but a dagger popularly known as Katar in the film’s trailer.

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The statement reads, “The concern is duly noted and we wish to respectfully clarify that the film does not depict a Kirpan but in fact has used what is commonly known as a Katar. The filmmakers have been careful not to hurt the feelings of any community including the Sikh community. The film is about celebrating incompleteness and to tell a heartfelt story. We trust you (MLA Manjinder Singh Sirsa) will appreciate our stand that any concern this may have caused in completely inadvertent.

We are writing on behalf of the makers of the Film, Zero. Your concern is duly noted and we wish to respectfully clarify that the film does not depict a Kirpan. The film makers have been careful not to hurt the feelings of any community including the Sikh community. (1/2)

— Spice (@SpiceSocial1) November 5, 2018

Sir we have replied to all your concerns, hope this helps. pic.twitter.com/h4fDB1S9b2

— Spice (@SpiceSocial1) November 6, 2018

Manjinder Singh had earlier exclaimed that Sikhs will not tolerate that any movie star or the film itself shows the Sikh tenants or their articles of faith in a bad light. He further said that in the trailer, Shah Rukh not only wears the Kirpan but also the poster shows the star in a lighter mood, which asserts that the Sikh article of faith is also taken in a lighter sense. He said that Sikh Guru Sahiban has blessed enough power and strength to the Sikhs to fight with such atrocities.

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Aanand L Rai directorial Zero, also starring Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif is slated to release on December 21, 2018.