My Name is Khan has finally hit the theaters across India except Mumbai, because Mumbai is govern and controlled by none other than the hoodlums – Shiv Sena and MNS (Maharashtra Navnirman Sena) – who ransacked theaters and tore posters across Mumbai.

When things like this are happening around, no one would be willing to face the ire of those who are very much safe because State and Central government finds no answer to it – they think they will use it in the next elections– and they carry on rioting from years.

What was wrong if Shah Rukh Khan freely voiced the agony of millions cricket lovers that Pakistani players should have been treated in a better way – even if they were not be taken in the IPL3 (Indian Premier League) – because sports are above politics. Politics many a times divide people while sports try to fill the gorge between them.

The simple motto behind SRK’s comment would have been let sports alone, with IPL’s response not to choose the Pakistani players, the players must have felt ashamed. If they were not to be bought by the franchisees, they shouldn’t be put to auction rather been told meticulously that they cannot take part because of the security reasons.

A comment that caught the eyes of Shiv Sena who are least bothered about the image of India rather they are more concerned about their own political mileage. Patriotism and national interest is their least concern and it only shows in the words but it never came into action. If they had they would never ever tried to sabotage the constitutional rights of the people of India.

If they – Sena- have the freedom of expression – through Sena’s mouthpiece Saamna – why can’t an ordinary Indian – SRK may not be ordinary – use the same to say what he feels? Read Saamna editorials and you will find nothing about development but everything will be subjected to political, regional and religious division over which they have constructed Maatoshree.

How long an artist – MF Hussain – an actor Shah Rukh Khan and a director Karan Johar would forcibly apologize – to save their neck or else has to run away from India?

Not easy to comment over the film success or failure but it has lead to arguments and discussions that how long the politics of division, rioting and forcibly seizing a city or a state would continue?

Barbara Mori, the Mexican beauty is no more in haze; she will be landing on the Indian soil [Mumbai] very soon to complete the last leg of shooting for Anurag Basu’s most talked about film ‘Kites’. After the terrorist attacks [26/11] Barbara was a little worried about traveling to the city but Hrithik Roshan convinced her.

Now as everything is set for her arrival, one man is more than excited and he is none other than the director Anurag Basu himself.

‘Kites’ also features Hrithik Roshan and Kangna Ranaut, is said to be themed on love transcending cultural and language barriers- love speaks one language and that is emotion.

Just for a glance, in the movie Barbara Mori speaks in Spanish and Roshan Jr. converse with her in Hindi albeit they fall in love – seems impressive!!

For many who are still unaware about Kangana’s character, I must say just one thing; she has a pivotal role which adds spice to the whole drama.

Earlier Hrithik’s kiss scene with Barbara has been in news but director says, ‘Kites’ is not all about sex and steamy scenes but it is an intensely romantic film. 

I am here in Chennai to meet Shridhar for the last time. Went to his house last night to meet his family who are in shock and grief. As he lay in the centre of the gathering he looked peaceful, almost as if he were just asleep. I met his parents, brothers, wife and sons who were all very dignified in their moment of deep pain.

Shridhar was one of the finest technicians of our industry and a dear friend. We have worked together a number of times, and very closely during Lagaan. He did the final mix of the film, which is the last and most crucial creative process in film making. A close associate of A.R., he has worked together with him on a majority of his songs and background scores. In fact he was in A.R.’s studio until 4am yesterday morning working with A.R. and Murgadoss on our film. By around 8.30am he had passed away in his sleep.

The sudden news of his most untimely death came to me yesterday morning when I was still trying to pull myself out of the depressive state of mind I had slid into post the attacks on Mumbai. It left me shattered.

As I had expected various politicians have tried to use this traumatic and tragic attack to their advantage. I only hope that people see through them this time.

Quite clearly both the major political parties have failed to tackle terrorism. There have been repeated attacks on us during both their reigns which neither has been able to either anticipate or deal with well. While what happened in Mumbai recently clearly exposes the incompetence of the Congress, the hijacking of the Indian Airlines flight 814 during the BJP rule shows them in even worse light. They actually NEGOTIATED with the terrorists and RELEASED 3 dreaded terrorists from Indian jails. All the 5 hijackers and the 3 terrorists released from India by the then BJP government were allowed to escape to attack us another day.

I think the first lesson to learn from this is that we MUST NOT NEGOTIATE. No matter what, the next time round around, and lets not fool ourselves we must be alert and prepared for more attacks, we MUST NOT NEGOTIATE. All potential terrorists must get a very clear message that INDIA DOES NOT NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS. What that means is, that in the future if there is a situation where me or my kids are held hostage by a bunch of terrorists then I must be prepared to tell our government – to hell with me and my children just go in there and kill the terrorists. I am prepared to sacrifice myself and my loved ones for the larger safety and security of the country but DO NOT LISTEN TO AND NEGOTIATE WITH TERRORISTS.

I personally hold both these political parties, and in fact other regional political parties across the country, responsible in one way or the other, for fueling terrorism in the first place. And please remember that the definition of terrorism is not restricted to AK 47 toting maniacs. It includes the spread of terror by other means like stone throwing, beating up of innocent people on the roads, and rioting, etc. Any means, in fact, to spread terror in the hearts of ordinary citizens.

The other important thing we need to remind ourselves in this time of anger and hurt is to stay calm and take sensible steps, and not give in to thoughtless knee jerk reactions. I heard someone say on television that we should all stop paying our taxes as a show of protest. Haven’t heard of a more silly idea than that. If we stop paying our taxes then we won’t have an army and NSG to save us next time around!!! Instead we should all START PAYING OUR TAXES. We demand so much of our leaders but are we fulfilling our basic responsibility? Can we say with honesty that as citizens of our country we are all honestly paying our taxes? If we are not paying our taxes can we blame the government for being inefficient? If we are corrupt then how can we expect our politicians to be honest?

I have a very important thing to say to all the various people going around arbitrarily throwing accusations at the politicians. These politicians are not from Jupiter or Mars, they are one of us, from our very own society, selected by us through a democratic process. So now think for a moment, who really is to blame? We can only blame ourselves guys. Half of us don’t go to vote. The half that does vote has selected these guys.

In my opinion, you really want to change things? Change yourself. Each one of us needs to take a very honest look inwards and rectify and work on what we think is wrong with us. If each one of us does that individually then there will be a sea change in our society at large. I have to promise myself that I will not be corrupt, will play my role in society with honesty and sincerity. Doctors, lawyers, judges, people in the IAS, police force, media persons, businessmen, job workers, labour force, everyone. We have to stop thinking of our own individual gain and loss and do what is honest, true and right, and think collective. It calls for personal sacrifice in this time of chaos but from chaos will emerge clarity. Even if we don’t manage to achieve this for ourselves we will achieve it for our children.

What I would really like to see emerge from all this is the youth of this country starting a political party. A group that stands for strong, clean, honest and fresh leadership. A group that we can all support.

And finally, if we really want to make sure that terrorists fail in achieving their end, then these terror attacks should not take us towards hate but instead towards love. If we react with hate we are succumbing to these terror attacks, and if we react with increasing love and peace in our hearts then we squarely defeat the terrorists. Allowing love, peace and trust to grow within us is not a sign of weakness but a sign of immense strength.

With appreciation and gratitude to the security forces who acted with courage, and with a prayer in my heart for those departed.

Faith.