An open letter to SRK

Dear Mr. Shah Rukh Khan,

Every day, you stand on your iconic balcony. You wave to a large gathering of adoring fans. You shower them with flying kisses. It’s a scene of love, admiration, and sheer magic—a testament to the unmatched bond you share with millions across India. But now, India needs more from you than those daily rituals of connection.

Can you step beyond the balcony? Can you come down to the streets to lead a movement—a juggernaut of resistance to save the nation’s soul?

Today, India stands on the edge of a precipice. Democracy is being dismantled, brick by brick. The secular fabric of the nation is being torn apart with frightening audacity. The government openly emboldens the 3Gs: gurus, goons, and goondas, who shamelessly incite hatred against Muslims and other minorities. You’ve felt their venom firsthand.

The rot runs deep. Democratic institutions, from the judiciary to the election commission, are increasingly compromised. Even the film industry, including the censure board, is being dragged into the divisive Hindutva agenda. The media, once a watchdog, is now a lapdog. Writers, journalists, poets, and academics face the heat of this authoritarian fire.

Mr. Khan, your silence, though dignified, is deafening. The nation needs a leader. They should be courageous, compassionate, and charismatic. Such a leader can awaken the people and rally them into action. Who better than you?

Imagine the impact of a true-life Pathaan rallying the nation to defend its democracy and unity. Picture millions of Indians—writers, poets, activists, and ordinary citizens—marching together under your leadership. It would be a spectacle that can shake Raj Path and rattle the corridors of autocracy.

India lacks a leader who can inspire trust, hope, and action. If not you, then who? The Opposition has failed miserably to counter the forces tearing this country apart. You, Mr. Khan, have the power, the platform, and the passion to ignite this historic movement.

You’ve already sung for your watan in films, but now it’s time to act for Hindustan. The spirit of “Aye Mere Pyare Watan” must live in action, not just melody.

The nation needs you—its real-life hero. Are you ready to answer its call?

Yours sincerely,

Promod Puri