Bollywood backs Shah Rukh Khan, snubs Shiv Sena

Mumbai: Bollywood is finally rallying around Shah Rukh Khan and speaking out against the Shiv Sena.

Famous actors like Salman Khan, Abhishek Bachchan and Nana Patekar have came out vociferously in support of Shah Rukh Khan, who is under fire from the Sena for backing Pakistani players in the Indian Premier League.

Salman asked political parties to keep cricket and politics apart.

"We should not mix cricket and politics. It's not about Shah Rulh, Salman Khan or Aamir's film. It's everyone's film, it's country's film. We actors never go out and say don't vote for this party or don't vote for that party," said Salman.

Nana Patekar, a Maharashtrian himself, blamed the society and the government for giving Shiv Sena a free hand

Marathi manoos was never scared. We're never against anyone. I never felt scared. The government and the society are to be blamed for whatever is happening in Mumbai today," Patekar said.

But Shiv Sena chief Bal Thackeray has once again used the party mouthpiece Saamna to launch a scathing attack on Shah Rukh Khan.

Balasaheb has called SRK a traitor in his later article and says that the actor must remember that the 26/11 attackers were mostly Pakistanis.

"Mumbai has not only sheltered Shah Rukh Khan but other Bollywood stars as well. Despite this Shah Rukh Khan is now favouring Pakistani players. He is a traitor. His actions have hurt the sentiments of most of the Indians," the Saamna editorial said.

Even the saffron brigade is divided over Shah Rukh Khan's statements. Openly defying the RSS and BJP, the Vishwa Hindu Parishad has now come out against Shah Rukh Khan.

VHP's General Secretary Pravin Togadia has called for a boycott of SRK's film My Name Is Khan.

VHP's call could bring some solace to the Shiv Sena which is increasingly getting isolated.

Togadia has slammed Shah Rukh for his support to Pakistani cricket players. The VHP has also warned the film fraternity, saying that if actors make political comments they should be prepared to face the consequences.

The VHP even went as far as demanding that Pakistani artists should not be allowed to work in the Indian film industry.