Slumdog debate: Shah Rukh slams critics on poverty jibe

Mumbai, Jan 28: Slamming the critics of Oscar nominated `Slumdog Millionaire`, Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan has said that the poverty highlighted in the movie is a "reality" and wondered why people in India tend to become cynical when something good is happening. "Isn`t that (poverty and slums) a reality ? If you (critics) have a problem with the word slumdog, why don`t you look positively and see that there is a word millionaire or `crorepati` also," Khan, who returned from Los Angeles yesterday after a month-long schedule of Karan Johar`s `My name is Khan` told reporters. Critics felt that the movie sells India`s poverty to West and some others had raised objections to the word `slumdog` on grounds that people living in Indian slums were being referred to as `dogs`. "I have just returned from the US and people there have become crazy about the film and its music. The film`s sound is also good apart from a good story and screenplay. The film deserves all awards," Khan, who has read the original book as well as the script, said. The actor said that he does not regret declining Anil Kapoor`s role in the film. "I cant regret something which I could not have done. I don`t think I would have done justice to the role of a game show host like Anil Kapoor," he said at the launch of his company`s foray into television content last night with `Ghar Ki Baat hai` on NDTV Imagine. SRK said that during the period which Danny Boyle shot the film, he was already hosting `Kaun Banega Crorepati` (KBC) and later `Kya Aap Panchvi Pass Se Tez Hai`. "I am still on contract for a new season of these shows," Khan said. SRK said Oscars and Golden Globe awards are a symbol of international recognition. "I love awards and I hope to feature in a film comprising Indian cast and crew some day which will go to win these awards," he said adding "the success of `Slumdog Millionaire` worldwide is an incentive to all Indian filmmakers." Bureau Report