'Slapgate' divides Bollywood

The SRK-Shirish slapping episode has created ripples in T'town and beyond

Shah Rukh Khan

Bollywood and Shah Rukh Khan’s scuffle with Shirish Kunder is the hottest trending topic right now. The fight has created huge headlines not just in India but worldwide.

To provide a quick recap, Shah Rukh Khan allegedly slapped Shirish Kunder, his one-time friend choreographer Farah Khan’s husband, at Sanjay Dutt’s party post an awards ceremony. A day after, there are different versions of what happened and why.

Some sources say it was because an inebriated Shirish was constantly needling Shah Rukh who walked into the party. SRK, who already had had problems with Shirish (due to the latter’s caustic tweets about ‘Ra.One’) couldn’t take it anymore and punched him. The fight would have gone out of hand hadn’t Sanjay intervened and separated the two. Other stories say that even Sanjay slapped Shirish as he was angry with him for trying to cosy up to his wife Manyaata and flirt with another girl at the same party.

A day later, Bollywood is clearly divided. But the main people of the episode are still reeling under the impact of what happened.

Shah Rukh Khan, who did not react to the incident the whole of Monday finally broke his silence by tweeting: “Another long nite. Shooting for a public service msg film about education peace & harmony. Feels ironic when I read & see wot is being said.”

Trying to keep his calm and pretending ‘all is well’, he wrote: "Nite shift. Need to get some sleep. Old hindi songs playing as I commute across the sleeping city of Mumbai..Chukar mere mann ko from Yarana." Another of his tweet read: "Just finished shooting...after a long time shot in the south part of Mumbai. It was beautiful in the morning...our city is awesome!" Earlier he had told a TV channel: There was a disagreement with Shirish, but certainly no assault."

Shirish, his current arch-rival posted on Twitter: "Thanks for all your concern & wishes. We are very grateful. Contrary to rumours, we have no intention of filing a FIR or police complaint." Incidentally, Shirish was very sporting of the numerous jokes that are floating around the web. "Some of your jokes on the incident were very funny. Including the ones on me. Keep up the humour. I'll be back soon," he tweeted.

Meanwhile Sanjay Dutt was busy issuing clarifications. He denied that he too slapped Shirish. As he told a journalist, “I didn't join in the fight. I sorted out the fight between Shah Rukh and Kunder."
However, the entire episode has sent shockwaves across the industry and people are quickly taking sides. Here are some of the reactions:


Shirish Kunder: "Shah Rukh pushed me without any provocation, and he started threatening me for no reason. He pulled my hair ... he was completely drunk and kept repeating, ‘I will destroy you’. I was too shocked to react. Finally, Sanjay Dutt and Baba Dewan (the party’s host) intervened and I left from there."

Farah Khan: "Shahrukh has always told me that physical abuse is the worst way 2 sort out a problem, n that its means the person who's hitting has either a personal or professional crisis going on, n it saddens me 2 see him doing the same (sic)," she SMSed reporters.

Sanjay Dutt’s spokesperson: "Shirish was irritating Shah Rukh by hanging around him and trying to seek attention. Shah Rukh grabbed him and slapped him. Sanju intervened, Shirish left immediately but Shah Rukh stayed on."

Dabboo Ratnani: "I was present at Sanj's party & Without Any Bias I Fully Support Shah Rukh @iamsrk," the fashion photographer tweeted.

Ameesha Patel: "Shahrukh is supr rockin.. Good he gave it 2 shirish. people shud learn 2 b grateful to king khan, aftrall he has been so supportive 2 farah. Glad@iamsrk told shirish off n put him in place. srk has done so much 4 farah. they shud b grateful n not abusing srk. iamsrk is 2 dignified n wud nevr do anything unprovoked..he is too classy n a thorough gentleman (sic)," she tweeted.

We wonder if this fight will take the same route as the other big battle of Bollywood - Shah Rukh versus Salman Khan.