“Kiran and I have lived all our lives in India. For the first time, she said, should we move out of India? That’s a disastrous and big statement for Kiran to make to me. She fears for her child. She fears about what the atmosphere around us will be. She feels scared to open the newspapers every day. That does indicate that there is a sense of growing disquiet,” stated Aamir Khan at an awards function organized by the Indian Express, and all hell broke loose for these anti-National remarks! That was not expected from you Mr. Khan, not expected from the man who hosts the famous show “Satyamev Jayate”.
This casual comment rattled by Aamir Khan set off a rage of political reactions and a random comment noted showed that the people were rustling with fury at Aamir’s stance- ‘Go and live in Pakistan; I will buy you the ticket if you want to take the first flight out of India; how dare you criticize the country that has given you so much; why do stupid Hindus let Muslim actors bark like this…’ , this is what was said in a volatile tempestuous fury by someone. Is this what we term as freedom of expression, ask the people? Are we over tolerant of criticism?
TV and Twitter is all abuzz with these comments and a casual conversation of private fears that was shared with the audiences has let lose panoply of rage. Aamir Khan’s portrayal of “P.K.” and his fight against the “Holy babas” and blind beliefs had earned the accolades of some and the wrath of others who said he was rebuking the ways of the Hindus. But all in all it was an “irresponsible statement” to make as a celebrity. The intolerance statement had the BJP call Aamir Khan an “alarmist” and others were prompted to say that the man has “tarnished” the picture of India.
Did Aamir not realize the repercussions of this statement? Did he not realize that his statement would create such a furor? We, do wonder how Aamir Khan is threatened when he lives in the “privileged” Bollywood fraternity? The bottom line is that when a Bollywood personality who has earned the respect of the Nation through shows like Satyamev Jayate, talks about his fears and insecurity in public, he will end up spreading suspicion and terror between people of different religions who live in India as “Bhai-Bhai”.
