‘Bhai’ being human

How Salman Khan failed to remain apolitical during film promotion

NEW DELHI:

Amid ongoing debate over intolerance, Bollywood superstar Salman Khan says he doesn’t believe in judging people on the basis of where they come from or what their religion is.

The superstar preaches all human beings should live together in harmony. “We all are here, we are sitting beside each other, does anything make it different? It doesn’t matter. I believe that we are all Indians, we are all humans and we should love each other and live together,” Salman said at an event on Wednesday.

“That is what my organisation ‘Being Human’ is about. We don’t go on asking who you are and where you are from and I don’t believe in this at all.” The 49-year-old actor and Sonam Kapoor were in New Delhi to promote their forthcoming film Prem Ratan Dhan Payo.

Various sections of the society have voiced concern over growing intolerance in the country witnessed in the cancellation of legendary Pakistani ghazal singer Ghulam Ali’s concert in Mumbai and the returning of awards by noted writers and film-makers.



Bollywood’s ‘Badshah’ Shah Rukh Khan also appeared to have rubbed many people the wrong way, saying there “is intolerance [in India], there is extreme intolerance ... there is growing intolerance.” BJP MP Yogi Adityanath compared Shah Rukh with Hafiz Saeed, while another Hindutva proponent and Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Sadhvi Prachi dubbed the actor a “Pakistani agent”.

In fact Salman, who had earlier said that art is not restricted to boundaries and needs to be appreciated by all, was hesitant to moot the issue. “It is a wrong platform to discuss this. We have come here to promote the film. My mother’s name is Sushila Charak and my father is Salim Khan. I am Salman Khan and she is Sonam Kapoor,” he said, when asked to react on the ongoing controversy.

Salman, who will be walking as Prem on the silver screen again through Sooraj Barjatya’s directorial, shared that he is withholding his views on the issue to avoid negative impact.

“My statement can be misconstrued by many present here. That will influence many people. I don’t want Sooraj Barjatya or Rajshri [Productions] to get affected by this,” said Salman, who has teamed up with Barjatya after 16 years.

However, he hinted at the popular saying,  “Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Isai, Aapas Mein Bhai Bhai” in his own way. Salman said: “You must have heard of the famous phrase that goes something like ‘Bhai-Bhai’”.Prem Ratan Dhan Payo unfolds a royal chapter about love and family ties on the big screen. Also featuring Anupam Kher and Neil Nitin Mukesh, the film will hit the screens on November 12. 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 6^th, 2015.

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