Shah Rukh Khan is one of the biggest movie stars in the world, with more than 80 films and a clutch of awards to his name. He also has a major following on social media, not only in India, but throughout Asia and the Indian diaspora.
He became involved in cricket in 2008, when, together with Juhi Chawla and her husband Jay Mehta, he acquired ownership rights to the Kolkata Knights Rider (KKR) IPL franchise.
And it was in that context that Shah Rukh, who has been involved in his fair share of controversies over the years, found himself in more hot water.
In 2012, the KKR were playing a match against the Chennai Super Kings at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.
Shah Rukh was accused of trying to walk on to the field of play after the game. Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA). officials filed a case against him with the local police, claiming that he had been drunk and abusive towards officials.
Shah Rukh denied these claims, saying that he had not been present at the game itself, but had done to the ground to pick up a group of children, including his daughter. He had noticed security guards mishandling the children and treating them in an obnoxious fashion, and that was when the altercation started.
He denied being drunk, and claimed that he had only reacted as any father would. Eyewitnesses later claimed that a man dressed in yellow had repeatedly hurled abuse at Shah Rukh, leading to a further argument.
To further stir the pot, a social activist named Amit Maru tried to get Shah Rukh into further trouble, arguing he had breached the Juvenile Justice Act by using foul language in the presence of minors.
The MCA subsequently banned Shah Rukh Khan from entering the Wankhede Stadium for five years. The enquiry dragged on. Then, in 2019, the Mumbai Police ruled that Shah Rukh was not drunk. Neither did he use abusive language in front of children.
It had taken years to clear his name, although the stadium ban was rescinded in 2015.