By Hindustan Times

Mumbai, July 28 -- Has Shah Rukh Khan extended an olive branch to Shiv Sena chief Uddhav Thackeray? Yesterday's issue of Saamna, the mouthpiece of the party, carried an advertisement wishing Thackeray on his birthday. It read: 'With best compliments from Red Chillies Entertainment'. Red Chillies Entertainment is the production house owned by the Bollywood superstar.

Not long ago, SRK and the Sena were at loggerheads, after the party took offense to the actor saying that he had nothing against Pakistani cricketers playing in the IPL. The Sena had threatened to disrupt the release of SRK's film, My Name Is Khan. So Khan wishing Thackeray on his birthday is a surprise.

Warm gesture

Calling it a "personal, warm gesture", Shiv Sena spokesperson, Rahul Navrekar, says, "I don't know if Shah Rukh himself has placed the ad or someone from the production house did it. We had no personal animosity towards him, we were just reacting to the statements he made at the time. If he has realised it (his mistake), we are happy." Khan and his manager were unavailable for comment. The actor is currently in London shooting for his home production, Ra.One. Bobby Chawla, the CEO of his production house, is in hospital, after he passed into coma.

Samar Khan of Red Chillies Entertainment says that he has not heard of any such ad. He insists, "I just look after the TV division of the company." Some of the actor's fans have reacted adversely to the development. "I don't believe this! I thought he was a real hero," says Mukul Jain. But, the actor has some support too. "It's a positive move. Whoever makes the first move is a hero and SRK has proved that he is one," says industry analyst Komal Nahata. Adds filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt, "SRK has turned yesterday's enemy into a friend today. It's a moment to rejoice."