As India and Pakistan spar over the issue of security for Shah Rukh Khan, the Bollywood superstar today said it was sad that an article written by him took an "unwarranted twist" and he was forced to reiterate his patriotism.

Addressing a press conference in Mumbai, he said the article "Inside My Khanate" written by him recently for Outlook Turning Points, was being misquoted.

 "I never said I feel unsafe in India..I tell my children, they are Indians first." To those offering unsolicited advice, let me say: we in India feel safe. They should read my article first," Khan said.

 "It is irksome to have to have to clarify these issues...maybe I should stick to writing only on issues you expect me to know about, " he said.

In the piece in Outlook Turning Point, Khan had written, "I sometimes become the inadvertent object of political leaders who choose to make me a symbol of all that they think is wrong and unpatriotic about Muslims in India." He added, "There have been occasions when I have been accused of bearing allegiance to our neighbouring nation rather than my own country - this even though I am an Indian, whose father fought for the freedom of India. Rallies have been held where leaders have exhorted me to leave and return what they refer to my original homeland."

The furore started after Pakistan's Interior Minister Rahman Malik said that India should take care of Khan's security, drawing sharp reaction from India with the government as well as the political class saying should be more worried over security of its citizens.

Caught between the political tussle, the 47-year-old actor said it was ironical that people were reacting to his article without even reading it.

"My own family and friends, are like a mini India... where all religions, professions and a few wrongs included, all are treated with tolerance and understanding and regard for each other... I stand indebted to my audience in my country and around the world. It is sad that I have to say it to prove it, in my country, which my father fought for, during the Independence struggle.

"We have an amazing democratic, free and secular way of life. In the environment that we live here in my country India, we have no safety issues regarding life and material."

Shah Rukh said "being a public figure makes me prone to any kind of questioning, good and bad and at sometimes and on sometimes makes me an object of controversy as people use my name and statements to attach any positive or negative sentiment to it. This is the life I chose and stand by it... I am, because of the love and admiration that comes with being who I am in my profession. I thank everyone for making me the star I am".

He said the whole issue "has taken an unwarranted twist. I do not even understand the basis of this controversy".

According to him, the article he wrote was "actually meant to reiterate that some occasions might being an Indian Muslim filmstar is misused by bigot and narrow-minded people who have misplaced religious ideologies for small gains", and ironically the same has happened through this article once again.

Shah Rukh said the article penned by him did not state or imply that he felt unsafe, troubled or disturbed in the country.

"It (article) does not even vaguely say that I am ungrateful for the love I have received in a career spanning 20 years. On the contrary, the article says that in spite of the bigoted thoughts of some of the people that surround us, I am untouched by sceptics because of the love I have received from my countrymen and women," he said.

Looking perplexed at the frequent questions of reporters, the actor said, "I have already given the statement to you...I think that should satisfy your doubts".

On the controversy, he said, "Some of the views I have been made to read are just an extension of soft-targeting celebrities and creating an atmosphere of emotional outburst and divisiveness based on religion in the minds of some. Let not be misled by tool which use religion as an anchor for unrest and the policy of divide and rule".

"I would also like to add that my profession as an actor makes me liked beyond the borders of my nation and culture.... We all are educated and patriotic people... We do not have to prove time and again the cause of divisive politics of a few," the actor said.

"I only felt love, love and love that I got from millions of Indians and non-Indians and stand indebted to my audience in my country and around the world...It is sad that I have to say it to prove it in my country which my father fought for during the Independence struggle," Shah Rukh said.

He asked reporters to ask him about his future projects.

"Henceforth, ask me questions regarding my next movies, release dates and heroines acting in them", Shah Rukh said.

(With inputs from PTI)