Veteran actor-director Manoj Kumar, who passed away recently, had a major fall-out with Shah Rukh Khan’s 2007 release Om Shanti Om. Directed by Farah Khan, the film was Deepika Padukone’s debut in Bollywood. But one scene in the movie made Manoj Kumar angry, and he had a fight with the filmmakers. In the much-debated scene, Shah Rukh Khan’s character Om steals a pass to gain entry to a movie premiere and it is depicted as belonging to Manoj Kumar. The veteran actor was extremely offended by the depiction.
Also Read: Manoj Kumar Passes Away, Leaving Behind a Timeless Legacy
Kumar asked Farah Khan to have the scene cut, which was actually done in the Indian version of the film. Shah Rukh Khan issued a public apology later, saying, “I was totally wrong…If he is hurt, I apologise. I called him in the afternoon, and the first thing he said to me was ‘it is no big deal, son.'” The apology did little to end the controversy.
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Legal Battle After the Film’s Re-release in Japan
The case took a new turn when Om Shanti Om was re-released in Japan in 2013, and the objectionable scene was not cut this time. Manoj Kumar objected again, filing a legal suit against Shah Rukh Khan, alleging that he had ridiculed him and seeking a compensation of Rs 100 crore. His lawyer said, “He (Shah Rukh Khan) had promised Manoj Kumar earlier but committed this blunder again in Japan… No personal apology was offered by SRK.”
Kumar further stated that the inclusion of the scene was a violation of a 2008 court order that had directed the removal of the scene from all prints and telecasts of the film. In spite of the court fight, Manoj Kumar later withdrew the case against Shah Rukh Khan and Farah Khan.
This long-standing controversy reflected the conflict between the actor and the filmmakers regarding a seemingly harmless scene that resulted in significant fallout.
