'My Name Is Khan' not preachy about religion, politics

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"The film is mainly entertainment... If some issue is taken back home, I always tell people if they can take back a little more than an empty pack of popcorn, that's interesting... That's an added advantage to an entertaining film," Shah Rukh recently told IANS in the US while promoting the movie.

"You can have issues related in a film, but when filmmakers of commercial proportions like Karan, myself and Kajol and all get together, it's not to highlight an issue because it's too expensive as a commercial venture to make a film about an issue and not entertain," he added.

Directed by Karan Johar, the film has been co-produced by Dharma Productions and Gauri Khan. It marks the coming together of Johar, Shah Rukh and Kajol after nine years since their last outing "Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham" (2001).

"My Name Is Khan" begins with a child, Rizwan Khan, a Muslim who has Asperger syndrome, growing up with his mother in the Borivali section of Mumbai. When Rizwan grows up, he moves to San Francisco and lives with his brother and sister-in-law.

While there, he falls in love with Mandira (Kajol), a Hindu single mother and they eventually marry and begin a business. But after the events of 9/11, Rizwan and Mandira begin to face difficulties. Following a tragedy, they separate.

In order to win her back, Rizwan embarks on a journey to meet the US president for help.

The film is being marketed and distributed by Fox Star in India, in the US by its sister company Fox Searchlight and in the rest of the world by parent group 20th Century Fox International.

Fox Star reportedly acquired the global rights of the movie reportedly for USD 20 million.

The movie has already drawn its share of controversy and buzz courtesy a furore created by the Shiv Sena against Shah Rukh's comments on the inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the third season of the Indian Premiere League (IPL). Shah Rukh owns Kolkata Knight Riders IPL team.

The Sena sought an apology from the actor failing which all his films starting from the much-awaited "My Name Is Khan" would have been "banned" by them in Mumbai.

The promos and the songs of the movie have generated mass appeal especially due to a music track dominated by the Sufi genre.