Bollywood director urges Khans to break silence on anti-CAA protests

The three Khans have remained completely tight-lipped and colleagues and protestors are starting to take notice

Director Anubhav Sinha has expressed his disappointment with the three Khans of Bollywood over their silence on a new citizenship law that has triggered widespread protests in India.

The Citizenship Amendment Act has attracted intense criticism for being discriminatory towards the country's 200+ million Muslims. 21 protestors have since died in the protests that followed, reported Al Jazeera.

While the majority of Indians are rallying behind Muslims, including Bollywood stars, there is a deafening silence from the Khans, which Sinha, a staunch critic of Indian PM Modi's nationalist government, highlighted.

Where are the Bollywood Khans when India needs them most?

"I am really angry at anyone who has not spoken out," Sinha told Reuters news agency. Explicitly referring to the three Khans; Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan and Aamir Khan, Sinha continued, "These three actors and their fan following is something else. One word from them can influence millions."

Thank u @narendramodi for hosting us & having such an open discussion on #ChangeWithin & the role artistes can play in spreading awareness of the msgs of The Mahatma. Also the idea of a University of Cinema is extremely opportune! pic.twitter.com/kWRbNk3xzo

— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) October 19, 2019

Shah Rukh Khan, who commands a following of 39 million on Twitter, has been in cohorts with Sinha earlier when the two shot for the film Ra One, directed by Sinha. This did not deter the director from voicing his concern. Khan has also rubbed shoulders with Modi previously.

While a number of Bollywood names have spoken out, from Farhan Akhtar, Parineeti Chopra, Alia Bhatt, and Rajkummar Rao to Varun Dhawan, Sidhart Malhotra, Ayushmann Khurrana and Vicky Kaushal, industry royalty has remained silent.

https://twitter.com/sonakshisinha/status/1206789473540988929

🇮🇳 Jai hind pic.twitter.com/mvDKpj7Z4z

— VarunDhawan (@Varun_dvn) December 17, 2019

Sinha cleared how it doesn't matter what their stance about the law is, but it's imperative they make a public statement and 'join the debate'.

"I am not saying they should agree with me or others. Their opinion can be the opposite of what we have," he said.

Sonakshi Sinha feels anti-CAA protests more important than Dabangg 3 earnings

At this point, not just industry insiders, but even protestors are calling out the Khans on remaining quiet. Students at the Jamia Millia University in Delhi, alma mater of Shah Rukh Khan, where the first protests erupted, almost feel betrayed.

"Someone like him staying silent is unacceptable," said student Zoya Nadeem Azmi to Al Jazeera.

According to industry insiders, the silence has more to do with the overpowering government involvement in the entertainment industry than the actors own will.

Urging @SrBachchan, @iamsrk and @karanjohar to creatively ensure high voter awareness and participation in the coming elections.

Because...its all about loving your democracy (and strengthening it). :)

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 13, 2019

Film critic Rajeev Masand also gave a statement to Reuters saying, "In America, President Trump cannot use the government machinery to go after actors who disagree with him, but here, that fear is very much there."

This is illustrated clearly by the fact that PM Modi has been seen rubbing shoulders with Bollywood figures at more instances than one, and there was even a propaganda-esque film titled PM Narendra Modi that released this year.

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