Shah Rukh Khan´s ´Billu´ Sans ´Barber´ This Friday!

- Planet Bollywood Special Correspondant           Let us know what you think about this story

The actor-producer, who spoke to representatives of the Salon and Beauty Parlors’ Association over the issue, on Sunday said his production house Red Chillies Entertainment will ensure that the term 'barber' is removed from all hoardings.

"We will put a piece of paper on the word barber wherever it can be done in India. We will send teams," Khan said.

"Posters and hoardings belong to the production, which is Red Chillies. It is a little expensive to try to change the posters, so, that we couldn't have done," he told a news channel.

The association had earlier objected to the title of the film, terming the use of the word 'barber' "objectionable and derogatory".

The association president Uday Takke had reportedly threatened to take to streets if the film, that is set to hit theatres next Friday, was released with some objectionable content.

Khan, who has a cameo in the Irrfan Khan-starrer, said though his company stood by the fact that there is nothing wrong with the use of the word 'barber', they did not want to offend anybody.

"I had a discussion with the association of hair dressers and salon of Maharashtra and elsewhere on phone. It think may be we were never wrong using the word barber because that is what we stand by, but they have their own take on that," the superstar said.

"Billu has been made with good feelings about love and goodness. If it is hurting somebody, let me not do it," the actor said.

Directed by Priyadarshan, the film which is a re-make of Tamil movie 'Kuselan' starring Rajnikanth, is roughly a take on the friendship shared by Krishna and Sudama.

Shah Rukh Khan's home-production is a story about a village barber, played by Irrfan Khan and his superstar friend, played by Shah Rukh himself. The film also stars Lara Dutta.

Asked if he made attempts to negotiate with the protesting party or to explain to them that there was nothing derogatory in the film's title, Khan said there was no such attempt and he was sure he did not want to render anybody "unhappy".

"If they understood that (that the title was not derogatory) they would not have an issue. In this case, I was very clear there is no legality involved and I would like to make sure that people are not unhappy.

"Also. I am unwell and going for a surgery and did not want to hurt anyone, so I took a decision without asking anyone else," said Khan.

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