Deepika's saffron outfit in 'Tu Mil Jaaye' from 'King' sparks 'Besharam Rang' comparisons

Deepika Padukone's saffron outfit in 'Tu Mil Jaaye' from 'King' sparks 'Besharam Rang' comparisons as fans say, 'They're lowkey so funny for this'

Deepika Padukone’s saffron outfit in ‘Tu Mil Jaaye’, the first song from Shah Rukh Khan’s upcoming film ‘King’, has sparked discussions on social media. Fans are connecting her look to the ‘Besharam Rang’ controversy from ‘Pathaan’, and the debate is gaining momentum online.

Fans spot the colour choice in the 'Tu Mil Jaaye' song

The romantic track was released at midnight on Shah Rukh Khan’s 61st birthday. While many viewers were busy admiring the romance and the picturesque visuals, the colour of her outfit became the real talking point. For many, it recalled the ‘Besharam Rang’ song and the row over her saffron bikini. A few even guessed that director Siddharth Anand, who also made ‘Pathaan’, might be playfully nodding to the old controversy.

Social media reacts to the 'Tu Mil Jaaye' song

Firstly, the visuals of the song 'Tu Mil Jaaye' from the SRK's 'King' reminded the viewers of the track 'Besharam Rang'. Viewers felt that the colour palette, backdrops, SRK and Deepika's avatars were quite similar to the 'Pathaan' song.Within hours, the speculation reached social media timelines. Posting a screenshot of Deepika’s look, one user wrote, “they’re lowkey so funny for this,” while another asked, “Wait...

did Shah Rukh Khan just troll someone (sic)?” A popular Instagram reel carried the caption, “SRK did it dirty to ‘those bhakts’ (sic).” Another post on X said, “Deepika is back in saffron #KING (sic).”

What happened with ‘Besharam Rang’

In case you missed it, the saffron bikini Deepika wore in ‘Besharam Rang’ from the 2023 blockbuster ‘Pathaan’ led to a huge row before the film’s release. Several religious groups objected to a colour they consider sacred in Hinduism being used in a song whose title translates to ‘shameless colour’.

Some critics claimed it hurt Hindu religious sentiments. Despite the noise, the film went on to be a blockbuster.The matter soon turned political. Madhya Pradesh’s then Home Minister Narottam Mishra was among the first to object, calling the outfit vulgar, asking for changes in the song and even warning of a statewide ban on the film. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and other groups also raised objections.Siddharth Anand later explained that the colour was picked randomly to suit the sunny setting of the song and that there was no bad intent.

The Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) later suggested changes to the film, including to the song’s visuals.

About ‘Tu Mil Jaaye’ and ‘King’

‘Tu Mil Jaaye’, sung by Arijit Singh and Ed Sheeran, is the first track out from ‘King’. The film marks the big-screen debut of Shah Rukh Khan’s daughter, Suhana Khan. The ensemble cast also includes Deepika Padukone, Rani Mukerji, Abhishek Bachchan, Anil Kapoor, Arshad Warsi, Jackie Shroff, Jaideep Ahlawat, Raghav Juyal, Saurabh Shukla, Abhay Verma and Kareena Kapoor Khan, among others.Directed by Siddharth Anand, ‘King’ is being pitched as a major Christmas release and will hit theatres on December 24. With the first song already creating such a stir, anticipation for the film is only growing among fans.