Bollywood and Sports

“I don’t crave publicity”, : Shahrukh Khan

Shah Rukh Khan found himself in the centre of a controversy after a senior Cricket Board official alluded that cricket matches were being used by stars to promote films, but the superstar hit back saying he did not have to depend on others’ platforms to push his films.Khan said he was sad and disappointed over the remarks by Ratnakar Shetty that stars using the platform of cricket for promoting films is “slightly debatable” in the wake of his latest film Om Shanti Om coming up for discussion during a chat with TV commentator Rameez Raja at the recent Jaipur ODI cricket match between India and Pakistan.

Shetty, however, said film stars were welcome to watch cricket matches. BCCI Vice-President Rajiv Shukla said the Cricket Board had no objection to Khan or any other film personality coming to watch international cricket matches involving the national side.

A visibly hurt Khan said in Mumbai that “God has given me enough and I don’t crave publicity”.

“I went to watch the match for the love of the sport. It is not in my nature to promote my films in others’ platforms,” he said.

“I think it is strange that just because I am popular, I can’t take my children to watch a spectator sport without creating some kind of ill will or ill thought in the mind of people. I am very disappointed,” Khan said.