Shah Rukh Khan's past remarks on South Indians resurface amid Ram Charan controversy; what has he said?

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan has found himself at the centre of a social media storm following a remark he made during the pre-wedding celebration of Anant Ambani and Radhika Merchant. The three-day star-studded event saw the convergence of Bollywood's big three stars—Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, and Aamir Khan—dancing on stage to the tunes of the Oscar-winning song Naatu Naatu. However, it was a lighthearted comment directed at Telugu superstar Ram Charan that sparked a wave of criticism.

ALSO READ: After Shah Rukh Khan refers to Ram Charan as ‘idli’, the latter’s make-up artist Zeba Hassan walks out of the Ambani bash, Reports

Shah Rukh Khan faces social media backlash

As SRK, Aamir and Salman persuaded Ram Charan to join them on stage, Shah Rukh Khan humorously summoned him using a playful combination of South Indian breakfast dishes, saying, "Bhend idly vada, Ram Charan kahan hai tu." Some online users deemed the comment inappropriate, leading to backlash on social media.

The controversy escalated when Ram Charan's makeup artist, Zeba Hassan, took offence, claiming she walked out of the event in protest. The incident has sparked emotional reactions from fans, with a section of the audience accusing Shah Rukh Khan of "insulting" Ram Charan.

Also Read: Shah Rukh Khan twins with AbRam at Anant Ambani-Radhika Merchant’s pre-wedding day 2, Suhana Khan spices it up in red

SRK's old comments on South Indians

Amid the ongoing debate, social media users are also circulating an old clip in which Shah Rukh Khan expressed his admiration for South Indian cinema and its significant impact on his career.

SRK made these comments during the promotions of his 2013 comedy movie Chennai Express. When he was asked whether the film might have anything that would offend the sensibilities of South Indian audiences, he emphasised his respect for diverse cultures and his commitment to avoiding any form of derogatory content.

"If you do claim that you have liked the work that I have done in the last 22 years, I think you would grant me that much leeway that I would never go out of my way to make fun of any ethnicity or language or any situation or disability," SRK had said.

He further highlighted his South Indian cinematic influences, stating, "The cinema that I know, I think I've learned from some of the masters, which I believe belong to the South. Mr. Maniratnam, Mr. Priyadarshan, Mr. Santosh, Mr. Ravi, Manikandan."

So far neither Shah Rukh Khan nor Ram Charan has issued a statement on the controversy.

Watch Tejas, Expendables 4, Australian Open, Cubicles 3, and more on OTTplay, by subscribing to the Jhakaas monthly pack, which provides access to 22 OTTs at just ₹249 for the first month.