Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan has been lauded for addressing some of India’s darkest social problems after his new television show tackled the taboo subject of female foeticide. Khan’s show, which had been massively promoted before its debut on Sunday, received near-universal praise from the press and the public for his interviews with women about their harrowing experiences. The 90-minute programme gripped viewers as Khan, a top actor, producer and director, explored how a preference for male heirs leads to the killing of female foetuses and new-borns. Khan, using data graphs and maps to make his case, urged the public to help bring about change before an emotional Bollywood-style song at the end of the show ensured maximum appeal to the audience. The mixture of campaigning social activism and an intimate, personal style on ‘Satyamev Jayate’ (Truth Alone Triumphs) drew comparisons to US chat show host Oprah Winfrey. The reaction of viewers to the show was so strong that its website crashed. “Aamir Khan’s show can bring a revolution,” tweeted actor and social activist Shabana Azmi, adding the programme “forces us to reexamine ourselves”. Actress Preity Zinta told her 1.5-million followers: “I love this effort from him & thank him as a woman!”
