How 'Mumbai Diaries' uses Shah Rukh Khan references as a symbol of hope and humanity

Still from Mumbai Diaries

The series 'Mumbai Diaries' directed by Nikkhil Advani is centered around the fictional Bomaby General Hospital, located in the heart of the city. The series takes us through the struggles and challenges the government hospital faces. While the first season takes us through the functioning of the hospital through the 26/11 Mumbai attacks, the second season sees the staff at the hospital deal with the tragic Mumbai floods that brought the city to a halt. The fact-based fictional series reflects on the realities of society and hardships faced by people and how such times also unite them.

While movie and movie star references in cinema are uncommon, the way Mumbai Diaries uses Shah Rukh Khan's reference in both seasons is interesting to observe. In season 1, Shah Rukh Khan's mention births an emotional conversation between two unlikely individuals. In the scene, Dr Chitra Das is captured by the terrorists when they arrive to attack the hospital. Dr Das gets caught by the terrorists who push her into a wardrobe and lock her in there. Owing to a traumatic past, Dr Das gets nightmares when locked in a wardrobe.To calm herself, she sings the song ‘Main Koi Aisa Geet Gao' from Shah Rukh Khan-starrer Yes Boss (1997). Dr Das's whispered singing is heard by the terrorist on the other side of the cupboard who is closely listening to her sing. The terrorist, a young boy, dressed in a simple t-shirt and ants continues to sing the song. Dr Das at this point is alarmed. In that moment there is peace around them as the young boy shares with Dr Das on how his sister back home is a big fan of Shah Rukh Khan. "She just wants to visit Mannat once. Have you seen it?" he asks her in an innocent tone. "No, never got the opportunity," she responds back crying. Amused, the boy asks, "Really? You live in Mumbai and have never seen SRK's house? God willing! My sister will definitely see."

For a moment, this scene reflects on the human side of terrorists which does not mean the makers are justifying their act. "My idea is that terrorists are not born. They are young boys who possibly have a sister, whose favourite actor is SRK. They have been terribly brainwashed. They have been made to love hate. But somewhere in a vulnerable moment, he remembers his sister. That is something I wanted to do," Nikkhil Advani had said talking about the scene in an earlier interview with Bollywood Hungama.

In season 2, once again, Advani uses a Shah Rukh Khan reference at a crucial point in the plot. In episode 6, Dr. Subramaniam, Dr. Kaushik Oberoi (Mohit Raina), and Dr. Sujata Ajawale proceed to perform a craniectomy on a young girl, which the doctors feel is the only way to save her life. However, the situation is tricky as Dr Oberoi, who can perform the surgery in the best possible way, is banned from doing so owing to a legal matter. However, he decides to guide the head of the hospital to perform the procedure despite his lack of practice. Dr Ajawale, a junior, is asked to keep the young girl occupied with conversation during the surgery. In that moment, to give the little one hope and instill confidence she asks her, "Do you know who Shah Rukh Khan is?"

"My mother's favorite hero," she manages to say.

"Then you have nothing to worry says the doctor before pointing and looking up to Dr. Oberoi and smiling, "He is the Shah Rukh Khan of doctors".

Here, the Shah Rukh Khan reference is used by the doctor to instill faith and hope in a little girl in what is probably the scariest moment of her life.