The Shiv Sena has sent feelers to Mumbai cinema halls to boycott the actor's forthcoming film "My Name Is Khan"

From the film fraternity, his fans to artists and political parties - Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is drawing mass support in the wake of the Shiv Sena's verbal assault on him for favouring Pakistani players' inclusion in the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The Shiv Sena has sent feelers to Mumbai cinema halls to boycott the actor's forthcoming film "My Name Is Khan", which releases Feb 12. Sena workers have removed the film posters from several theatres.

Shah Rukh's colleagues are expressing their support for him on micro-blogging website Twitter.

"Shah Rukh is the most secular and the most fair guy I know! It's unfair to judge his movie based on his opinions! I do love Karan Johar and Shah Rukh! Both are very dear to me and I will defend them if someone writes nonsense about them," film star Preity Zinta tweeted.

Added Anupam Kher: "Mr P. Chidambaram was displeased too for not including Pak (istani) players in IPL. No outcry about it. May be (because) he is the Home Minister. You need guts to go for him (sic)."

Others who have joined the online forum include directors Mahesh Bhatt and Anubhav Sinha. Veterans like Shabana Azmi and Shyam Benegal have also rallied in support for the actor on national television.

"The state must step into this immediately. The state has enough power. Why is the state not doing anything?" said Benegal.

Aamir Khan also said that if he were to select IPL players, he would do so only on the basis of their performance and not nationality.

Shah Rukh, who owns the Kolkata Knight Riders team of IPL, had spoken against the exclusion of Pakistani cricketers from the forthcoming tournament. The Shiv Sena said if Shah Rukh failed to apologise for his statement not only would his "My Name Is Khan" be banned, but all his films could face a ban in Mumbai.