New Delhi, Jan 31: Bollywood superstar Akshay Kumar and veteran actor Anupam Kher today supported Kamal Haasan over ‘Vishwaroopam' controversy with Kher terming the movie ban “ridiculous”.
Tamil Nadu banned Haasan's film for two-weeks in the state, citing law and order problems following allegations by Muslim outfits that it portrayed the community in negative light.
Haasan is awaiting the Madras High court verdict on the Tamil version of the movie before deciding the next course of action. Hindi version hits theatres tomorrow.
Recalling the problems during the releae of his production ‘Oh My God', Akshay said, “I had to talk to various organizations and make them understand that the movie is not against God. I think its absolutely useless that we have to do something like this.”
The actor, in the capital to promote his upcoming movie ‘Special 26' with Kher and director Neeraj Pandey, however, hoped that the matter would be resolved amicably.
“There is a Censor Board for this and if government doesn't believe in the Board then they should appoint some other people. It is sad but one day it will come clean,”
Akshay said.
Kher, a former Censor Board chief, said the ban was unacceptable and Board should be the final authority in clearing a film. “It is absolutely ridiculous... I have been a former Censor Board chief and we need to respect its verdict.
If the board has cleared a movie we don't need to go to 50 other organisations for clearance. I think we are going back to the dark ages. “A movie shouldn't be affected just because some 20 people are shouting slogans. This is appeasement politics.
Government needs to be told that this is not acceptable,” Kher said. Pandey, who is returning to direction after the success of his debut ‘A Wednesday', echoed Kher's sentiments.
“The temptation is always to stand by the film you have made but we need to give in and make changes. I also feel some people are just waiting for such opportunities for political mileage,” Pandey said.
