Watch it. Weep. And remember: Your name doesn't matter. Your actions do.
My Name Is Khan (2010), directed by Karan Johar and written by Shibani Bathija, is a compelling drama that follows Rizwan Khan (Shah Rukh Khan), a British Muslim man with Asperger’s-like traits, as he embarks on a cross-country journey across the United States to meet the President and clear his name after being mistakenly associated with terrorism following the 2008 Mumbai and 9/11-era backlash. indian movie my name is khan
Shah Rukh Khan’s portrayal of Rizwan is widely considered one of his career-best. He captures the physical mannerisms and social challenges of Asperger’s without losing the character's warmth or dignity. Visual Storytelling Watch it
Throughout his journey across America, Rizwan is beaten, arrested by the FBI on suspicion of being a sleeper agent, and held in a secret detention center where he is tortured in clear violation of human rights. The scenes in Guantanamo-style cages are startlingly violent for a Bollywood production. The film also highlights how non-Muslims who attempt to help Muslims also become targets of suspicion. Your actions do
Driven by his literal-mindedness and love for Mandira, Rizwan embarks on a cross-country journey to meet the U.S. President. Along the way, he survives a hurricane, befriends a Black single mother and a Christian pastor, gets arrested as a terrorist suspect, and unwittingly saves lives. His simple, repetitive mantra—“My name is Khan, and I am not a terrorist”—becomes a quiet act of defiance against a society that has dehumanized him.