Turning 50 on Monday, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan came 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 addressing a news conference here in connection with 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.
“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.