When it comes to Bollywood rivalries, perhaps few have been as contentious as the competition between Shah Rukh and Salman Khan. Though the stars themselves have made public gestures of reconciliation on a number of occasions – each of them reported upon by breathless Bollywood reporters as if the Israelis and Palestinians have found accord – this has not prevented the more diehard fans of these stars from indulging in Twitter wars that often become ludicrously heated.
The latest bout followed the release last week of the first trailer of Shah Rukh Khan film Happy New Year, which fans of Salman Khan quickly began to ridicule. But SRK has a huge following on Twitter too, and they were quick to respond.
Here are the eight most common points of criticism Shah Rukh Khan received, and how his fans countered them.
1) He is not a versatile actor
Both Shah Rukh Khan and his fans are particularly offended if someone points this out. “Check your facts,” Pratishtha Malhotra, a Mumbai-based entrepreneur who has wanted to marry the actor since she was a child, said. “If Chak De India, Darr, Swades and Dil Se were not versatile enough for you then you have no understanding of Hindi cinema. May be you should watch theatre. Oh, wait, he has done that too.”
2) Salman Khan has a bigger fan base than SRK
To which the fans responded, "Have you seen the sort of reception Shah Rukh gets in even non-English speaking countries like Russia, Germany, France and Belgium? How many non-Hindi speaking women melt at the sight of Salman? Other than Jacqueline Fernandes, of course."
3) Salman is a more bankable star when it comes to the box-office
Movies should be judged not by the money they make but by the performance of their actors. Salman films are like a quick joke but SRK’s portrays meaningful characters who teach you lessons in life, a fan tweeted.
Every time a new actor emerges, Shah Rukh’s critics claim he is finished. But that never happens.
5) Salman is a better human being than SRK
At this, Shah Rukh’s fans point quickly to Salman’s car hitting people sleeping on the sidewalk, that he has allegedly beaten up girlfriends, and the other charges against him. SRK’s fans say he is a family man who works tirelessly to provide for them.
6) Ranbir Kapoor is the new king of Bollywood
One fan says: You know what SRK stands for, right? Superior to Ranbir Kapoor. The most interesting reaction came when a fan compared him to Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar. “Everyone has been claiming that Virat Kohli will break Sachin’s record, but people forget that he had consistently performed for over 20 years,” said Tara Ahuja, who calls herself SRK’s biggest fan. “Same with Ranbir Kapoor, he has to deliver good films for the next 20 years.”
7) Aamir Khan’s films are smarter
Shah Rukh fans, who often double as Aamir Khan detractors, say that Aamir’s films are usually copies of a very good foreign movie, and are propelled by things like storyline, screenplay and cinematography, and not the performance of the lead actor. They say that Shah Rukh can turn a film with a weak script into a blockbuster simply through his charisma and screen presence: for instance, Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Chennai Express.
8) He overacts
The most interesting replies to this accusation went, "Have you seen Hrithik Roshan act? His face muscles vibrate during an emotional or intense scene. Yet we think of him as an A-league actor." Shahrukh Khan’s performances are more believable, his fans say, and he is able to establish a real connection with the audience.
9) I am sick of his arms-wide-open pose
Shah Rukh’s trademark pose – arms spread, chest thrust out – as a declaration of love and longing been seen over and over again in the last 20 years. But the magic still works: his fans, especially the women, say it still makes them weak at the knees.
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The latest bout followed the release last week of the first trailer of Shah Rukh Khan film Happy New Year, which fans of Salman Khan quickly began to ridicule. But SRK has a huge following on Twitter too, and they were quick to respond.
Here are the eight most common points of criticism Shah Rukh Khan received, and how his fans countered them.
1) He is not a versatile actor
Both Shah Rukh Khan and his fans are particularly offended if someone points this out. “Check your facts,” Pratishtha Malhotra, a Mumbai-based entrepreneur who has wanted to marry the actor since she was a child, said. “If Chak De India, Darr, Swades and Dil Se were not versatile enough for you then you have no understanding of Hindi cinema. May be you should watch theatre. Oh, wait, he has done that too.”
2) Salman Khan has a bigger fan base than SRK
To which the fans responded, "Have you seen the sort of reception Shah Rukh gets in even non-English speaking countries like Russia, Germany, France and Belgium? How many non-Hindi speaking women melt at the sight of Salman? Other than Jacqueline Fernandes, of course."
3) Salman is a more bankable star when it comes to the box-office
Movies should be judged not by the money they make but by the performance of their actors. Salman films are like a quick joke but SRK’s portrays meaningful characters who teach you lessons in life, a fan tweeted.
4) Other actors are threatening his popularity
Every time a new actor emerges, Shah Rukh’s critics claim he is finished. But that never happens.
5) Salman is a better human being than SRK
At this, Shah Rukh’s fans point quickly to Salman’s car hitting people sleeping on the sidewalk, that he has allegedly beaten up girlfriends, and the other charges against him. SRK’s fans say he is a family man who works tirelessly to provide for them.
6) Ranbir Kapoor is the new king of Bollywood
One fan says: You know what SRK stands for, right? Superior to Ranbir Kapoor. The most interesting reaction came when a fan compared him to Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar. “Everyone has been claiming that Virat Kohli will break Sachin’s record, but people forget that he had consistently performed for over 20 years,” said Tara Ahuja, who calls herself SRK’s biggest fan. “Same with Ranbir Kapoor, he has to deliver good films for the next 20 years.”
7) Aamir Khan’s films are smarter
Shah Rukh fans, who often double as Aamir Khan detractors, say that Aamir’s films are usually copies of a very good foreign movie, and are propelled by things like storyline, screenplay and cinematography, and not the performance of the lead actor. They say that Shah Rukh can turn a film with a weak script into a blockbuster simply through his charisma and screen presence: for instance, Jab Tak Hai Jaan and Chennai Express.
8) He overacts
The most interesting replies to this accusation went, "Have you seen Hrithik Roshan act? His face muscles vibrate during an emotional or intense scene. Yet we think of him as an A-league actor." Shahrukh Khan’s performances are more believable, his fans say, and he is able to establish a real connection with the audience.
9) I am sick of his arms-wide-open pose
Shah Rukh’s trademark pose – arms spread, chest thrust out – as a declaration of love and longing been seen over and over again in the last 20 years. But the magic still works: his fans, especially the women, say it still makes them weak at the knees.
