American Journalist Angers Shah Rukh Khan Fans As He Calls SRK India’s Tom Cruise

International reviewers have taken notice of Shah Rukh Khan's Pathaan's global triumph. The Hindi action film has set box office records both internationally and domestically. Scott Mendelson, an American journalist and critic, referred to Shah Rukh in an essay as "India's Tom Cruise." This infuriated his supporters, who asked him to revise his piece. After Shah Rukh's admirers shouted out on Twitter, the Top Gun: Maverick star began to trend.

The piece is titled 'India's Tom Cruise Shah Rukh Khan May Have Just Saved Bollywood With His Blockbuster 'Pathaan.' It was published for the website The Wrap and was shared by the US writer. His post examined how Shah Rukh Khan's return film was rejuvenating the Hindi cinema industry after a decade of decline. After four years, the actor is returning to the big screen.

India's Tom Cruise, #ShahRukhKhan, May Have Just Saved Bollywood With His Blockbuster #Pathaan via @TheWrap by @ScottMendelson https://t.co/kqEAsaWf7s
(much thanks to @SiddhantAdlakha and @meJat32)

— Scott Mendelson (@ScottMendelson) February 3, 2023

Many others pointed out the disrespect handed out to Shah Rukh in the comparison. One Twitter user wrote, "Correct the headline of your newsletter. Shah Rukh Khan is Shah Rukh Khan, no one ever will be able to come even closer to him. No one is comparable with him." Another fan explained, "I know you’re just trying to provide context. But as a white American who hadn’t seen a single Bollywood movie until 2019, Shah Rukh is so much more than Tom Cruise. There is no Hollywood equivalent." Siddharth Malhotra's Pathaan was released on January 25. The film, which also starred Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Dimple Kapadia, and Ashutosh Rana. It starred Shah Rukh as an Indian spy attempting to stop a former rogue agent from spreading terror over the world. Since its release, the Hindi film has earned approximately 700 crore at the global box office.