Bollywood had shied away from publicly supporting Shah Rukh Khan during the Shiv Sena controversy, while veteran actor Anupam Kher believes such unity and support is needed only at a time of national calamity, and not for an individual.
“Why should we come out together? We come out together when there is a national calamity. We come out together when there are issues related to the nation,” Mr. Kher said.
He was responding to a query why Bollywood has not come out together as one unit to support Shah Rukh Khan, when Shiv Sena opposed the screening of ‘My Name Is Khan’ (MNIK) to protest against the actor’s remarks favouring inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the IPL.
“I don’t think this (controversy over MNIK release) should be treated as a viable means to come together. It’s important everybody has an individual (opinion),” he added.
The Sena had opposed the release of MNIK in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra. Activists of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Brajang Dal also did the same in Ahmedabad.
Baring some supportive tweets from actors like Hrithik Roshan, Riteish Deshmukh and Priyanka Chopra, many prominent members including Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Yash Chopra remained silent on the issue.
In the past, Bollywood had not come together to support Aamir Khan after the screening of his film ‘Fanaa’ was disrupted by right wing activists over his support to the Narmada Bachao Andolan in 2006.
