More than a decade after the release of PK, Aamir Khan has finally addressed the persistent backlash the film has faced. Appearing recently on Aap Ki Adalat with Rajat Sharma, the actor firmly denied accusations that the 2014 satire was anti-religious or promoted the idea of “love jihad.” Aamir emphasized that the film’s core message was misunderstood by some, stating, “They’re wrong. We’re not against any religion. We respect all religions and all religious people. That film just tells us to be cautious of those who exploit religion to fool the common man and extract money. You’ll find people like that in every religion. That was the film’s only purpose.”
Directed by Rajkumar Hirani, PK featured Aamir Khan as an alien who lands on Earth and begins to question religious dogma, rituals, and societal norms as he tries to understand human behavior. While the film received widespread praise for its bold satire and thought-provoking commentary, it also drew criticism from certain groups who accused it of offending religious sentiments and portraying organised religion in a negative light. A subplot involving a romantic relationship between a Hindu woman (played by Anushka Sharma) and a Pakistani Muslim man (played by the late Sushant Singh Rajput) also sparked controversy, with critics alleging it endorsed “love jihad.”
Responding to those claims, Aamir Khan clarified, “When people from two religions, particularly Hindu and Muslim, fall in love and get married, that’s not always love jihad. This is just humanity. It’s above religion.” He further challenged the logic of such accusations by pointing to his own family’s interfaith relationships. His sister Farhat is married to Rajeev Dutta, and his other sister Nikhat to Santosh Hegde. Aamir himself was married to Reena Dutta and later to Kiran Rao, both Hindus, and his daughter Ira Khan recently married fitness coach Nupur Shikhare. The actor’s remarks aimed to highlight the personal and universal nature of love, transcending religious boundaries.
