Whiplash

So, Shahrukh Khan gets it wrong again. At least that is what the
Mumbai Cricket Association says. SRK himself is furious on the
wrongful portrayl of the much blown out of proportion incident by the
MCA officials. He reckons that his daughter Suhana and other children
were being manhandled by the officials. The Knight Riders in fine
fettle this year in the IPL pulled the chestnuts out of the fire
virtually by suffocating Mumbai to a 32 run defeat and I guess there
must have been much bonhomie amongst KKR supporters who would have
wanted to celebrate by getting on to the playing field.

That SRK is hot headed is a given, but at the same time, he is careful
of doing the ‘wrong’ thing in public. He is conscious of his public
persona and knows that he figures towards the top of the popularity
index. At KKR games, people often want to see SRK and not the match,
such is his personable appeal. Over the day I have heard many
uncharitable remarks – he is under pressure because Aamir and Salman
have bested him at the box office, SRK is a boor, he is constantly
behaving badly, why is he doing this to himself et al. Shahrukh Khan
is a star, his actions and comments are constantly watched. Whether it
is his spat with best buddy Salman Khan or thrashing Shirish Kunder or
now the very ugly altercation at the Wankhede stadium, the hot headed
Khan has lately not been on his best behavior.

His psyche was obviously been brutalized with the harrowing interface
with American immigration officials which led to him making – My Name
is Khan. His films, much hyped, have not been commercially as
successful as the other two Khans, his peers – Aamir and Salman
bhaijaan. The dramatic Rs 100 crore net of tax big number at the B.O
was something that eluded the Khan. But with an extremely stylish take
on Don, SRK breached the box office. Suddenly one hears that SRK is
doing five films, one sees him at all his games and mercifully his
team is actually doing well this season and has a shot at the trophy.
SRK has changed over time, one can sense that. A seven hour long
interrogation by the Enforcement Directorate in Mumbai obviously not
helping him mentally. My most recent interaction with him was at the
F1 circuit. In a melee, he was gracious enough to break free from the
fetters of his bodyguards and onlookers to touch base with my kids. He
even blessed my son.

After that, he has had another run in with US immigration officials.
These things can play and prey on your mind. SRK has to rise above
this. He is a star, a star larger than the celluloid he graces. The
greatest romantic hero of this time.