Prominent Bollywood actors Abhishek Bachchan, Salman Khan, Kajol and Bipasha Basu on Friday came out openly in support of Shah Rukh Khan, who has come under attack by the Shiv Sena for backing the inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the upcoming IPL.
Abhishek, the first from the Bachchan family to have broken the silence over the issue, "All that has been happening over the past few days is very unfortunate and sad! I believe that sports, arts and culture should be above politics," Abhishek wrote on the micro-blogging site Twitter. "My family and I have faced many such incidents in the past. And all I wish for is peace and harmony to prevail over all citizens," he added.
Salman Khan, who is said to be not on cordial terms with SRK, too defended him, saying he has not said anything which is wrong. "What should he apologize for? 'My Name is Khan' should be released for sure. It has to. As an industry we pay huge entertainment tax to the government and we entertain the people also.
We don't think like politicians. I anyway don't understand this whole thing of taking a morcha and going to somebody's house," he said. Kajol, who is in London now with SRK for the promotion of their new film, assured her fans that the film will be released as scheduled on February 12, notwithstanding the threat from the Sena which has warned cinema owners against its screening.
"Mumbaikers, don't worry people, even Chengez Khan can't stop MNIK release, relax and let all your positive energy flow here," she wrote on Twitter. "Because of some dirty politics, India is trailing behind the world, let us be together and show them the power of democracy," she added.
Describing SRK as an iconic figure, Bipasha Basu said, "If you ask me as an individual there is nothing wrong that he has done. We are all there and Khan has the love and support of zillions of people. I am sure these tough times will pass." Asserting that nobody has the right to block the film's release, Farhan Akhtar said, "There is no need for anyone to be afraid in the face of this sort of hooliganism! There are laws and we have faith in them protecting us."
In a stinging attack on political parties, Shabana Azmi said they were only concerned about their interests. "I don't think anything is said that genuinely offends the political parties. They are concerned about their sagging political career, so this becomes a very easy peg to hang their sagging career, because they get into the news," Azmi told a national television channel. PTI
Latest India News
