Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan joined the ongoing debate on intolerance in India yesterday, when he said that he felt a growing sense of alarm and despondency in the last six months, and that his wife, film director Kiran Rao wanted to move out of India. This comes weeks after fellow actor Shah Rukh Khan criticised "extreme intolerance" in the country.
"Kiran and I have lived all our lives in India. For the first time Kiran says, 'Should we move out of India?' That's a disastrous and big statement for Kiran to make," Khan said. "She fears for her child. She fears about what the atmosphere around us will be. She feels scared to open the newspapers every day."
“As an individual, as a citizen, certainly I have also been alarmed, I can’t deny it, by a number of incidents,” he added.
Speaking on the numerous Indian writers, artistes, filmmakers, historians and scientists returning their government awards to protest the lynching of a Muslim man over beef consumption and the murder of rationalists, Khan said that he endorsed any protest which was non-violent. “For creative people, to voice what they feel is important. A number of creative people — historians and scientists — have increasingly had a certain feeling that they feel they need to express," Khan said. "One of the ways of expressing their dissatisfaction or disappointment is to return awards.”
Khan's comments provoked a discussion on Twitter, with numerous people supporting him. Bollywood actor Anupam Kher, who has opposed the artists returning awards, directed a series of tweets at Khan questioning his comments.
Admire @aamir_khan for spkg out on intolerance at RNG Awards. Good thing creative community shedding inhibition, joining contentious debated
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) November 23, 2015
Dear @aamir_khan. Did you ask Kiran which country would she like to move out to? Did you tell her that this country has made you AAMIR KHAN.
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) November 23, 2015
Dear @aamir_khan. Did you tell Kiran that you have lived through more worse times in this country & but you never thought of moving out.
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) November 23, 2015
Dear @aamir_khan Presumed country has become #Intolerant. Wat do u suggest 2 millions of Indians? Leave India? Or wait till regime changes?
— Anupam Kher (@AnupamPkher) November 23, 2015
Last month, 12 filmmakers had returned their National Awards over the issue of "rising intolerance" in India, threats to the freedom of expression and a strike by the students of the Film and Television Institute of India against the appointment of the institute's charman.