Shah Rukh Khan slammed by right-wingers for visiting Hindu temple ahead of ‘Jawan’ release

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan was spotted along with his daughter Suhana Khan visiting Sri Venkateshwara Swamy temple in Tirupati on Tuesday to offer prayers and ask for blessings ahead of the release of his action thriller ‘Jawan’.

After Mata Vaishno Devi darshan last week, Shah Rukh Khan visited the Sri Venkateswara Swami Temple in Tirupati for a special darshan along with Suhana Khan ahead of Jawan release.

Uday stalin's Red Giant movies is distributor for Jawan in TN pic.twitter.com/9yHJxJzrUc

— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) September 5, 2023

The news however was met with backlash from right-wing conservatives on social media. The extreme-right brigade condemned the Bollywood actor for what they said was using religious temples as props for movie promotions. Many accused the ‘Pathaan’ actor of making a mockery of religious places, calling for a ban on Muslim actors visiting Hindu temples.

“Seriously? Why are we allowing our temples to be used as publicity props by non idolators ?” one user wrote.

Seriously? Why are we allowing our temples to be used as publicity props by non idolators ? https://t.co/RMM6lHs1dT

— Grandson of Rama (@pramodrama) September 4, 2023

Another wrote:

“Hindu temples are not places of tourism & publicity stunt. Such gimmicks must stop and Hindus must resist such Nautanki. If you wanna take the blessings of our gods & goddesses then simply accept the Sanatan Dharma & carry on with your Yatra & not Temple Run publicity stunts.”

Hindu temples are not places of tourism & publicity stunt. Such gimmicks must stop and Hindus must resist such Nautanki.

If you wanna take the blessings of our gods & goddesses then simply accept the Sanatan Dharma & carry on with your Yatra & not Temple Run publicity stunts. https://t.co/pEYgZR62VP

— थेथर (@BoriaBistar) September 4, 2023

Every Hindu temple should learn from Puri Jagannath temple. Hindu temple are meant for Sanatanis only.

These are sacred places for our faith. And not for someone's PR run. https://t.co/jWMFzlCa7X

— ` (@rahulmsd_91) September 4, 2023

However, Bollywood actors have commonly visited temples before film releases to offer prayers for its success. Vicky Kaushal had visited the Siddivinayak temple in June to offer gratitude prayers after his film ‘Zara Hatke Zara Bachke’ became a box office success. Akshay Kumar visited BAPS Hindu Mandir in UAE to pray.

Shah Rukh Khan has been vocal about his secular family, not asking his children to follow Islam or Hinduism.

“We have never discussed Hindu-Muslim. My wife is Hindu, I am a Muslim and our kids are Hindustan. When they went to school, they had to write their religion. My daughter came to me once and asked ‘what is our religion?’ I simply wrote in her form that we are Indian, we do not have a religion.”

Many praised the superstar for his massive respect for all religions

This is called a true Indian who respects all religions. Today in my eyes their respect has increased even more. 🤲🙏

Pic1 -: Shah Rukh Khan praying in the Holy City #Mekkah hand🤲

Pic2 -: Shah Rukh Khan’s second visit to #VaishnoDevi in nine months For Pray. ❣️🚩#Jawan https://t.co/10OcDS4T1K pic.twitter.com/IzNnOn33vu

— SRKian BaBa 🐦 (@SRKian_BaBa) September 4, 2023

What a human being is my SRK ❤️❤️❤️❤️ https://t.co/xUlG3zbEnd

— Teja (@Teja__Kavali) September 5, 2023

God knows the sincerity and faith with which he is visiting these holy places!

That’s the reason he’s gonna become only Indian actor ever to give back-to-back Two 1000cr grossers! #Jawan https://t.co/ZfuQq7cMRb

— Kabir (@Kabir_SRK_fan) September 5, 2023