Court cases and kicks

Last week was full of conflicts. Pancholis sued Jiya Khan’s mother and Saira Banu accused the publisher of Dilip Kumar’s autobiography for misleading them on the promised sponsors for the launch event. Media photographers have complained to their union and decided to ban Salman Khan and his films

Zarina Wahab, mother of Aditya Pancholi said that she decided on the drastic step of suing Rabiya Khan, mother of Jiya Khan for defamation because she was tired of the constant lies and character bashing and had no other option but to stand up for her dignity. The decision has worked in her favour because suddenly Rabiya Khan has changed her stance and promised the court that she will no more indulge in slandering Pancholi family in print or in the social media. Pancholis have sued Khans for 5 crore as defamation charges and that has instilled sufficient fear in the Khans to back off! It reminds me of an old song in late Mehmood’s film “The whole thing is that bhaiyya sabse bada ruppaiyya.”

60s star Saira Banu would agree on this. A month ago when she released the autobiography of her husband Dilip Kumar ‘The Shadow and the Substance’ in Mumbai’s leading hotel attended by all the bigwigs of the fraternity, it was the most talked about event in recent times splashed all over the media. The first page of the book has a signature of the actor which means he endorses the product. That Dilip Kumar posed with the publisher for a tabloid on the day of the book release endorsed that the author and the printer were one big happy family. It came as a surprise therefore when Saira Banu accused the publisher of misleading them on the promised sponsors for the event. She complained of them presenting her a fraud cheque and raising exorbitant bills on the event. Saira Banu would not accuse without foundation but does it still justify a public court case at this stage of their lives? I don’t think so. The event is over and Dilip Kumar is never going to write another autobiography in his life so why not retain pleasant memories associated with the book. Nobody cares for the publisher but Dilip Kumar is the touchstone of Hindi cinema and as lovers of his films we would hate to see his name soiled in any controversies.

Instead I wish Saira Banu would concentrate on more productive options like Pakistan turning Dilip Kumar’s home in Peshawar into a heritage home where they will show Yusuf Khan’s journey from Peshawar to Pune. She has said that if Pakistan invites them to Peshawar she will most certainly escort Dilip Kumar to his home, sarhad paar. My mind goes back to the time the Noor Jehan had returned to India for a music event tracing 75 years of Indian cinema and Dilip Kumar was entrusted to introduce the nightingale on stage said: “Jitne saal aapne yahan aane ka intezar kiya hai, utne hi saal humne aap ka yaha aane ka intezar kiya hai”. If Dilip Kumar is able to travel to Pakistan Insha’Allah he will be greeted with as emotional a speech by his contemporary.

It was a week where a lot of people got upset. Our filmmakers are unanimously miffed with the Union Budget 2014. They were hoping for some relief on entertainment and service tax and were particularly optimistic after their meeting in Delhi to seek support on some way to curb the rampant piracy but clearly they were in for a surprise. Mukesh Bhatt, President of Guild India is angry and has gone on record to say that cinema is cultural ambassador of the country and is there for the government in crisis so why cannot the same support be reciprocated? Salman Khan was upset with paparazzi but not as much as the Photographers Union that was upset with the superstar. A few days ago Sajid Nadiadwala, producer of Salman’s forthcoming ‘Kick’ had invited the media for the unveiling of a new song “Jumma…”

It was a packed event and after the screening of the song came the moment all were waiting for, photographs! Witnesses to the event reveal that some of them requested Salman to move away from the designated spot and pose for them separately but Salman refused on grounds of security. The deliberations went on for a while and then the cameramen dispersed without getting the adequate picture they desired. Now it seems the photographers have complained to their union and decided to ban Salman Khan and his films. The lens men want an apology from the superstar on behalf of his security team who the photographers accuse misbehaved with them.

Salman has claimed that there was no untoward incident and his security was doing their job. He has said that it is okay with him if the media does not want to cover his promotions and his films in future. He has said that it is their prerogative but those who don’t want to ban him will be welcome at his events however those who decide to ban him must stand by their decision because then he will respect them for taking a stand against him.

I agree with Salman and believe that while publicity is part and parcel of show business, the media cannot overpower his life. Every actor is different and has a right to define his line of privacy. If Salman did not want to move away from his security to pose for pictures, he is entitled to his decision and the act most certainly does not justify a ban. A month ago the Photographers Union banned Shradha Kapoor who was cajoled by her father to make truce with them much against her wishes. Salman being a seasoned star will not be bullied by anybody and from experience I can tell you that the photographers will not ban either Salman Khan or his forthcoming film ‘Kick’.