Bollywood actor Aamir Khan has attracted immense attention after disclosing that his wife suggested they leave India following cases of religious intolerance in the country.
Soon enough, #AamirKhan hit top trends on Twitter and hostile comments from Bollywood and enraged fans surfaced.
Veteran actor Rishi Kapoor had a few words of advice for Aamir. Former actress Raveena Tandon was also furious, but chose not to name or tag anyone in her tweets, though it was fairly clear who she was referring to:
Singer Abhijeet compared his wife to Aamir’s.However, renowned Indian journalist Barkha Dutt stood by Aamir. Whereas Bigg Biss Season 4 winner has chosen to ban Aamir Khan. The Jazbaa director knows better than to preach freedom of speech. Fans were a little unforgiving. And then there were others who were all for Aamir’s argument.
Director Anurag Kashyap too shared his views on the matter: “Intolerance has always been there. We don’t have freedom of expression. It is something we have to live with, do our own bit, fight and refuse to participate. I hope it silences,” he was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.
India’s ruling party BJP also reacted, terming Aamir’s statement unfair. ”We won’t let Aamir leave the country, he is safe. This kind of comment influenced by a politically motivated campaign insults those who have given so much honour to Aamir in India,” said Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi, the Minister of State for Minority Affairs.
“It is stupid… It is stupid to be intolerant and this is our biggest issue, not just an issue… Religious intolerance and not being secular in this country is the worst kind of crime that you can do as a patriot,” he had said.
Following Aamir Khan’s statement about leaving India due to growing intolerance, veteran actor Anupam Kher has criticised the actor for his words, reminding him that it was India which gave him recognition and fame, reported Hindustan Times.
Kher tweeted to Khan after the actor and his wife Kiran Rao expressed concerns about intolerance in India and suggested that they should leave the country.
Aamir is not the first actor who has spoken up about intolerance in the country. Superstar Shahrukh Khan had also raised his voice on the matter. Indian actors Sonam Kapoor and Sidharth Malhotra also supported Pakistani actors Mahira Khan and Fawad Khan when Shiv Sena called for a ban on them.
Anupam Kher, who starred with Aamir Khan in Dil Hai K Manta Nahi, is also the husband of actor Kiron Kher who is a member of the current ruling party, Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP).
