![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YODGWSRUAN4DOXNMAF4BI6WE24.png?smart=true&auth=d445437affc5e19c0e95712cc07e81e4626affc0833db2c2493d11270eee3738&width=400&height=225)
Khan bought the rights of 'Forrest Gump' in 2018 to make 'Laal Singh Chaddha', which also features actress Kareena Kapoor Khan, Telugu star Naga Chaitanya as well as a cameo by superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Photo: Instagram / @kareenakapoorkhan
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3QFPTI6LFAGBEATJCVJJ4OJV6Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=933450d2445de832c8c86b52b7ffc71fa8d185730679ea48c5a5467ccb026c5c&width=400&height=225)
Bollywood star Aamir Khan's ambitious film 'Laal Singh Chaddha', a remake of the Oscar-winning film 'Forrest Gump', has finally been released after much delay. Photo: Paramount Pictures
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Kareena Kapoor Khan and Aamir Khan in 'Laal Singh Chaddha'. Photo: Paramount Pictures
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A few weeks before its release, the hashtag #BoycottLalSinghChaddha began to gain popularity on social media. A clip from an interview that Khan, one of Bollywood's most successful stars, did in 2015, was widely shared. In the interview, the actor spoke about his concern for the rising cases of violence against minorities in India — including cases of Muslims being lynched for consuming beef. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P7DSOIHM3BGGIBW7IOIKSLQVQY.jpg?smart=true&auth=293c0cc34b46decc59125a365e19484f20f52d63a9051aefcd7628bc559c2244&width=400&height=225)
Vehicles drive past a poster of 'Laal Singh Chaddha' in Mumbai. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/667B7WCKRKISVHALARGL6TSRIM.jpg?smart=true&auth=86323fa650a7ba3b3b0b86cb385da84a88fc82df66370fbda81909ccf95c20c9&width=400&height=225)
Aamir Khan pays his respects at the Golden Temple while filming 'Laal Singh Chaddha' in Amritsar. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5NTLXMKGK2DHEUGEHEB6Q3RGKE.jpg?smart=true&auth=aea5da8111accfb3f40b01641d102c5cbd8e6f465d44072021af7f482b2ac6cd&width=400&height=225)
Khan during the trailer launch of ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ in Mumbai in May. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PPHUTXOM6GISPWNPZALD2NBA34.jpg?smart=true&auth=b431fc907139566138a59ce103bcbcfbec41470696b4b1d5502012bd21654aa4&width=400&height=225)
Known as 'Mr Perfectionist', Khan is known for producing and starring in critically acclaimed blockbusters such as 'Dangal' (2016), 'PK' (2013) and the cult film '3 Idiots' (2009). AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HAVNETX75C4SWFI2NFPL5FBKSE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f5ed34f7038a16f9afbadfd93e191c390e9edc1847d7d16330875b2f2e62dae3&width=400&height=225)
Khan, who is not on social media, was forced to reiterate his patriotism as calls for the boycott of his latest film spread. 'I feel sad that some of the people believe that I am someone who doesn't like India,' he told local media. 'That's not the case. Please don't boycott my film. Please watch my film.' AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LKV5L446TBAAFWQZCBKYGUNVCY.jpg?smart=true&auth=0a5380afd7ead6b111eeba3e361c087b9f274f31968b55d1b9e050076f437e81&width=400&height=225)
Khan eats panipuri at the trailer preview of 'Laal Singh Chaddha' in Mumbai. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U3BOPJQZAN35PU722WOVAIV6UM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a9f8673f90b3a852735877666f513637def25b42ce203930d3d6a183f300476d&width=400&height=225)
Aamir Khan in character on the set of 'Laal Singh Chaddha' in 2021. Photo: IMDb
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QNREUZPVGMLABBLCUDO76HYSE4.jpg?smart=true&auth=6a5a524f42554342975209d49d20c816f3d0603f9a9ecfbe8f5473cbd73fef7f&width=400&height=225)
Aamir Khan greets fans while on set. Photo: IMDb
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5AIYEJVEHJHCGAVJRPC2TQO75I.jpg?smart=true&auth=1dfbf1b41e65b2268c7e1a8f6db021b357a2ee0b6c33b9f2b37fae5b9fd6bf1d&width=400&height=225)
In the 'Forrest Gump' remake, Khan takes on the role of the titular character Laal Singh Chaddha. The original's classic line 'Run, Forrest, run' is 'Run, Laal, run' in the Bollywood version. Photo: Paramount Pictures
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YODGWSRUAN4DOXNMAF4BI6WE24.png?smart=true&auth=d445437affc5e19c0e95712cc07e81e4626affc0833db2c2493d11270eee3738&width=400&height=225)
Khan bought the rights of 'Forrest Gump' in 2018 to make 'Laal Singh Chaddha', which also features actress Kareena Kapoor Khan, Telugu star Naga Chaitanya as well as a cameo by superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Photo: Instagram / @kareenakapoorkhan
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/3QFPTI6LFAGBEATJCVJJ4OJV6Q.jpg?smart=true&auth=933450d2445de832c8c86b52b7ffc71fa8d185730679ea48c5a5467ccb026c5c&width=400&height=225)
Bollywood star Aamir Khan's ambitious film 'Laal Singh Chaddha', a remake of the Oscar-winning film 'Forrest Gump', has finally been released after much delay. Photo: Paramount Pictures
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/FLGPWNCFWY4HWXLL6BTHDNQZZU.jpg?smart=true&auth=17bb6602c443ba7cda421fc80fff4a1aa2c968bc36de8dbf8f65c10511aab891&width=400&height=225)
Kareena Kapoor Khan and Aamir Khan in 'Laal Singh Chaddha'. Photo: Paramount Pictures
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/IUW2JOLYMKME7OKRRHKCRL4O6M.jpg?smart=true&auth=f02a0f16d532333b20ef14e57830b179e58d38bfed255ec3e8b6eb404cbadab8&width=400&height=225)
A few weeks before its release, the hashtag #BoycottLalSinghChaddha began to gain popularity on social media. A clip from an interview that Khan, one of Bollywood's most successful stars, did in 2015, was widely shared. In the interview, the actor spoke about his concern for the rising cases of violence against minorities in India — including cases of Muslims being lynched for consuming beef. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/P7DSOIHM3BGGIBW7IOIKSLQVQY.jpg?smart=true&auth=293c0cc34b46decc59125a365e19484f20f52d63a9051aefcd7628bc559c2244&width=400&height=225)
Vehicles drive past a poster of 'Laal Singh Chaddha' in Mumbai. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/667B7WCKRKISVHALARGL6TSRIM.jpg?smart=true&auth=86323fa650a7ba3b3b0b86cb385da84a88fc82df66370fbda81909ccf95c20c9&width=400&height=225)
Aamir Khan pays his respects at the Golden Temple while filming 'Laal Singh Chaddha' in Amritsar. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5NTLXMKGK2DHEUGEHEB6Q3RGKE.jpg?smart=true&auth=aea5da8111accfb3f40b01641d102c5cbd8e6f465d44072021af7f482b2ac6cd&width=400&height=225)
Khan during the trailer launch of ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’ in Mumbai in May. AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/PPHUTXOM6GISPWNPZALD2NBA34.jpg?smart=true&auth=b431fc907139566138a59ce103bcbcfbec41470696b4b1d5502012bd21654aa4&width=400&height=225)
Known as 'Mr Perfectionist', Khan is known for producing and starring in critically acclaimed blockbusters such as 'Dangal' (2016), 'PK' (2013) and the cult film '3 Idiots' (2009). AFP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/HAVNETX75C4SWFI2NFPL5FBKSE.jpg?smart=true&auth=f5ed34f7038a16f9afbadfd93e191c390e9edc1847d7d16330875b2f2e62dae3&width=400&height=225)
Khan, who is not on social media, was forced to reiterate his patriotism as calls for the boycott of his latest film spread. 'I feel sad that some of the people believe that I am someone who doesn't like India,' he told local media. 'That's not the case. Please don't boycott my film. Please watch my film.' AP Photo
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/LKV5L446TBAAFWQZCBKYGUNVCY.jpg?smart=true&auth=0a5380afd7ead6b111eeba3e361c087b9f274f31968b55d1b9e050076f437e81&width=400&height=225)
Khan eats panipuri at the trailer preview of 'Laal Singh Chaddha' in Mumbai. AP
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/U3BOPJQZAN35PU722WOVAIV6UM.jpg?smart=true&auth=a9f8673f90b3a852735877666f513637def25b42ce203930d3d6a183f300476d&width=400&height=225)
Aamir Khan in character on the set of 'Laal Singh Chaddha' in 2021. Photo: IMDb
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QNREUZPVGMLABBLCUDO76HYSE4.jpg?smart=true&auth=6a5a524f42554342975209d49d20c816f3d0603f9a9ecfbe8f5473cbd73fef7f&width=400&height=225)
Aamir Khan greets fans while on set. Photo: IMDb
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/5AIYEJVEHJHCGAVJRPC2TQO75I.jpg?smart=true&auth=1dfbf1b41e65b2268c7e1a8f6db021b357a2ee0b6c33b9f2b37fae5b9fd6bf1d&width=400&height=225)
In the 'Forrest Gump' remake, Khan takes on the role of the titular character Laal Singh Chaddha. The original's classic line 'Run, Forrest, run' is 'Run, Laal, run' in the Bollywood version. Photo: Paramount Pictures
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/YODGWSRUAN4DOXNMAF4BI6WE24.png?smart=true&auth=d445437affc5e19c0e95712cc07e81e4626affc0833db2c2493d11270eee3738&width=400&height=225)
Khan bought the rights of 'Forrest Gump' in 2018 to make 'Laal Singh Chaddha', which also features actress Kareena Kapoor Khan, Telugu star Naga Chaitanya as well as a cameo by superstar Shah Rukh Khan. Photo: Instagram / @kareenakapoorkhan
'Laal Singh Chaddha' backlash: is Aamir Khan being targeted because he's Muslim?
Bollywood remake of Oscar-winning Hollywood film 'Forrest Gump' has been the subject of nationalist trolls on social media
David Tusing
11 August, 2022
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