Singh Is Kinng - Controversies

Controversies

Before the movie was released, it was reported that the Sikh community in Khar, Mumbai was very pleased with the portrayal of the Sikhs in the film. Vipul Shah, the producer of the film, was felicitated at the Khar Gurdwara on 18 June 2008. He said, "Our intention was to portray the community in the right way and I am glad that we have managed to achieve it."

But some members of the Sikh community had expressed their displeasure over the portrayal of Sikhs in the movie. The Shiromani Gurdwara Prabandhak Committee (SGPC) announced that it was up to the audience to decide if it wanted to see the film or not.

On 1 August 2008, the Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee (DSGMC) sought a ban on the movie, saying that it "ridiculed" the Sikh community. It wrote a letter to Sheila Dikshit, the chief minister of Delhi, asking her to ban the movie. The main objection raised was that the film promos showed Akshay Kumar's character sporting a trimmed beard, which Sikhs found offensive as they believe that a Sikh should not trim his beard. Akshay Kumar and Vipul Shah had a 50-minute discussion with the DSGMC authorities, in which they explained the positive message behind the film. The DSGMC members requested twelve changes, with which the filmmakers complied. As a result of the discussion, DSGMC gave a "clean chit" to the movie on 7 August 2008.