At a recent gathering hosted by the Ambanis in Jamnagar, there arose a controversy surrounding Bollywood icon Shah Rukh Khan’s purported disrespectful comment directed towards renowned Telugu actor Ram Charan, as alleged by Charan’s makeup artist, Zeba Hassan.
Hassan claimed that she felt compelled to exit the event following the incident and even shared a video on her Instagram account as evidence to support her accusation. However, amidst the ensuing online discussion, some netizens countered the allegations, suggesting that Khan’s remarks were merely in jest, reminiscent of his character’s playful banter in one of his previous films, ‘One 2 Ka 4’.
Shah Rukh Khan Invites Ram Charan on Stage for RRR Dance
Shah Rukh invited Ram Charan to join him on stage during an event. On the second day, the audience witnessed a rare moment as the three famous Khans—Salman, Shah Rukh, and Aamir—performed together after many years.
They attempted to do the hook step from the song “Naatu Naatu” from RRR, originally featuring Ram Charan and Jr NTR. Eventually, Ram Charan himself joined them on stage, and they all danced together to the song’s hook step.
Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Aamir Khan’s Dance at Ambanis’ Jamnagar Event
Shah Rukh Khan Calls Ram Charan ‘Idli’, Makeup Artist Reacts
During a lively stage appearance, Shah Rukh affectionately dubbed Ram Charan as “idli” before inviting him to join in on the dancing fun. The playful moment, which was captured in a video posted by Pinkvilla on their Instagram account, showcased Shah Rukh Khan’s jovial banter with his fellow actor.
Shahrukh Khan is being insensitive by referring to Ram Charan as "idli," which could be perceived as a racial stereotype against South Indians. SHAME ON YOU @iamsrk#RamCharan pic.twitter.com/kUFRd6fTUj
— YoungTiger | Fan Account | (@Sallu_Stann) March 4, 2024However, Ram Charan’s makeup artist, Zeba Hassan, voiced her admiration for Shah Rukh Khan while also expressing her discomfort with the nickname he used for Ram Charan during the interaction.
Zeba Criticizes SRK’s Disrespectful Behavior
Zeba voiced her dissatisfaction regarding Shah Rukh Khan’s behavior, deeming it disrespectful towards Ram Charan. She took to her Instagram Stories to express her sentiments, recounting an incident where SRK allegedly called out names of snacks and questioned Ram Charan’s whereabouts. Zeba felt compelled to leave the situation, considering it inappropriate behavior towards a star of Ram Charan’s stature.
Shah Rukh Khan’s ‘Idli’ Online Criticism
Shah Rukh Khan’s recent comment about Ram Charan sparked criticism online. Many felt that referring to Ram as ‘idli’ was insensitive and could perpetuate racial stereotypes against South Indians.
Some people on Twitter accused Shah Rukh Khan of being casually racist, especially since Ram Charan is from South India. One tweet suggested that Shah Rukh Khan’s comment was particularly hurtful given that a South Indian director had recently given him a major career success.
SRK Gets Support
Not everyone saw SRK’s action as disrespectful. One person commented, “Is idli racist? If you call someone from Delhi a ‘batura’ or ‘lassi,’ will they be offended? We South Indians cherish idli, and sambar is part of our culture.” Another said, “People are unfairly judging SRK. Let’s be mature and appreciate the humor.”
Yet another person mentioned, “It wasn’t disrespectful. SRK doesn’t know Telugu, so he used whatever little he knew as an introduction. Let’s not spread unnecessary negativity.” Some also pointed out that the dialogue was from the 2001 movie “One 2 Ka 4,” where SRK referred to his “good old friend” Ram Charan.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q.1. What was the controversy surrounding Shah Rukh Khan’s comment at Jamnagar?
Ans. There was controversy surrounding Shah Rukh Khan’s purported disrespectful comment directed towards renowned Telugu actor Ram Charan, as alleged by Charan’s makeup artist, Zeba Hassan.
Q.2. What evidence did Zeba Hassan provide to support her accusation against Shah Rukh Khan?
Ans. Zeba Hassan shared a video on her Instagram account as evidence to support her accusation against Shah Rukh Khan.
Q.3. How did some netizens respond to the allegations against Shah Rukh Khan?
Ans. Some netizens countered the allegations, suggesting that Khan’s remarks were merely in jest, reminiscent of his character’s playful banter in one of his previous films, ‘One 2 Ka 4’.
Q.4. Why did Shah Rukh Khan refer to Ram Charan as “idli” during a stage appearance?
Ans. Shah Rukh Khan affectionately dubbed Ram Charan as “idli” during a stage appearance before inviting him to join in on the dancing fun. The moment was captured in a video posted by Pinkvilla on their Instagram account.
Q.5. How did Zeba Hassan criticize Shah Rukh Khan’s behavior towards Ram Charan?
Ans. Zeba Hassan voiced her dissatisfaction regarding Shah Rukh Khan’s behavior, deeming it disrespectful towards Ram Charan. She recounted an incident where SRK allegedly called out names of snacks and questioned Ram Charan’s whereabouts, feeling compelled to leave the situation.
