Cinema VinesA viral clip of Bollywood star Salman Khan receiving a Rakhi from his sister Arpita Khan Sharma has sparked widespread praise for its secular message. The video, which shows the actor smiling as his sister ties the thread on his wrist, was shared by Arpita on social media and quickly went viral.
In the footage, a painting of the Last Supper hangs behind the family, adding a surprising religious backdrop to the celebration. A tweet accompanying the video described it as “the most secular video on the internet today,” noting that Arpita, a Muslim woman married to a Hindu man, is tying a Rakhi to her Muslim brother while a picture of Jesus is visible in the background.
Reddit users also commented on the clip, with one user noting, “Salman KHAN celebrating Raksha Bandhan with Jesus in background,” and another replying, “Rich don't care about all these, it's just normal people who are obsessed with these stuff.” A further comment praised the scene as an “epitome of ‘Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Isaiah, sab hai bhai bhai,’” and another wrote, “Bhai is secular.” Some viewers even expressed emotion, saying, “Honestly speaking jokes apart this video is literally what India represents in a true sense lol.”
Arpita’s daughter Ayat also appeared in the video, tying a Rakhi to the sons of Arbaaz Khan, Sohail Khan, and Alvira Khan Agnihotri. Salman, who has four siblings—Arbaaz, Sohail, Alvira, and Arpita—has never married and is currently promoting his latest film, a Saudi production titled 7 Dogs, which stars Monica Bellucci among others. His next project, Maatrubhumi, directed by Apoorva Lakhia and featuring Chitrangada Singh, has yet to receive a release date.
Raksha Bandhan, a traditional Hindu festival that celebrates the bond between brothers and sisters, falls on August 28 this year. Sisters tie a Rakhi around their brother’s wrist as a symbol of protection, and in return, brothers give gifts to show their love and care.
