Shah Rukh Khan

prove

humiliating

patriotism

On his 50th birthday, the superstar becomes the first big Bollywood star to speak out against the intolerance prevalent in society todayTurning 50 on Monday, Bollywood superstarcame out strongly against what he called “extreme intolerance” in the country, saying intolerance towards creativity and religion will hurt the country. Adding his voice to growing protests and return of awards by filmakers, scientists, writers and historians over the ‘climate of intolerance’, the actor said while he had no National Film Award to return, he respects the decision of filmmakers like Dibakar Banerjee and Anand Patwardhan to give back their honour. Shah Rukh, who became the biggest celebrity from Bollywood yet to rally behind the intelligentsia, was speaking on the occasion of his 50th birthday on Monday. “If there is intolerance to creativity, intolerance through religion, we are taking away every step that the nation is taking forward,” he said.“I think creativity is very secure. It has no religion, caste or creed... Creative people shouldn't be told what religion the creativity belongs to,” Shah Rukh said, adding, “When we start questioning the creativity we are doing diservice to the nation.” Banerjee's decision to return the national award was criticised by his Khosla Ka Ghosla star Anupam Kher and director Madhur Bhandarkar but Shah Rukh said tolerance meant they were free to give diferring views. “In the West, opinions are respected. In our country, I think opinion is taken with a little more aggression if it doesn't agree with yours. Whoever takes a stand against creative people will face a huge backlash. I don't speak my mind often enough because I worry my film get into trouble, Shah Rukh Khan said later in an interview to NDTV.“Symbolically when some of the people have done that they have not only been brave but it is also a great gesture. I think it's it's a right thing to do. I am symbolically with them,” he said. Shah Rukh earlier in the day said that he respects those who returned awards but he does not have to follow suit. Padma Sri is among the awards in Shah Rukh’s kitty.“Anupam Kher, Dibakar Banerjee, Madhur Bhandarkar they all have their views. Tolerance in our country means giving your point of view symbolically and it’s fantastic. I hope this symbolism (of returning the award) should lead to something good,” Shah Rukh said. “I am all for creativity. I don’t have a National Award so first give me one and then I’ll talk about returning it,” he joked. Before the news conference, Shah Rukh had voiced his feelings on the issue of “growing intolerance”. “There is intolerance, there is extreme intolerance... there is I think... there is growing intolerance,” he said.”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 added.When asked about how he has toagain and again his ‘Indianness’, the actor said, “When asked about I am an Indian-born movie star. I am an Indian-born Indian. I am Indian - how does that get questioned? It is very degrading andto have to prove myevery now and then.”“Nobody has more right to live in this country than me, and I am not going to leave. So shut up.”On the protests by the students of Film Institute, the actor said he stands by the students. “I think the FTII students are completely on the right side. Some words or actions may sound wrong, that’s natural when you are on a strike or a fast and passions run high. But I think the students are right,” he added.I support the writers protesting to the Sahitya Akademi. Alarming times for free expression in India.I am not a politician, I am not interested in politics, therefore, I don’t want to comment on that but the reality today is that there is considerable fear in the minds of minority in India.The murder that has hurt us all is somewhere the fault of the system or government... Returning the award was an act of protest.Intellectually, there is not much difference between RSS and ISIS… Though previous NDA regime (under Vajpayee) did engage in divisive politics, they didn’t go as far as the Modi government has gone.India’s tradition of debate and an open spirit of inquiry is critical for its economic progress. A quick resort to bans will chill all debate as everyone will be anguished by ideas they dislike.