This Article is From Nov 24, 2015

Aamir Khan Trends on Twitter All Day, Rishi Kapoor Says Don't Run Away

Aamir Khan Trends on Twitter All Day, Rishi Kapoor Says Don't Run Away

Rishi Kapoor told Aamir that the system needed to be 'mended'

New Delhi: Actor Aamir Khan's comments on 'intolerance' are being hotly discussed on Twitter, especially his claim that wife Kiran Rao suggested they move countries. #AamirKhan was the top trend on Twitter all through Tuesday and very few are taking the 50-year-old actor's side. (Also Read: On Twitter, Anupam Kher Asks Aamir Which Country he Wants to Move to)

On Monday, Aamir said he was 'alarmed by a number of incidents.' Speaking at the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism in Delhi, Aamir also said, "When I chat with Kiran at home, she says, 'Should we move out of India?' That's a disastrous and big statement for Kiran to make. She fears for her child. She fears what the atmosphere around us will be. She feels scared to open the newspapers every day." (Also Read: Aamir Khan Joins 'Intolerance' Debate, Says Wife Even Suggested Leaving India)

The ruling BJP has dismissed the actor's statements as 'alarmist.' On Twitter, the general feeling appears to be that Aamir should not be knocking the country that made him a huge star. PK, the controversial 2014 film about religion and godmen that he starred, was referenced several times.

For once, Bollywood didn't close ranks. On Twitter, many from the film fraternity were among Aamir's most outspoken critics.

Actor Rishi Kapoor had strong words for his colleague:
 

Actor Paresh Rawal, the BJP MP from Ahmedabad East, had a series of tweets for his Andaz Apna Apna co-star:
 
 
 
 


Mr Rawal also spoke to NDTV via telephone and said, "Aamir is an intelligent fellow. He should have been careful while making this statement since such comments lead to unrest. He did not raise this issue earlier. Anybody can say anything, people say a lot of thing about PM Modi. I have already said every country has its own problems. Credit goes to the government for letting people speak their mind. The government is not supporting fringe elements. Development is the only agenda."

Among the first to call the actor out on Twitter was Aamir's colleague Anupam Kher, whose wife Kirron is the BJP MP from Chandigarh. Mr Kher tweeted late Monday:
 
 
 
 
 

Ram Gopal Varma tweeted:


 

Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit, who is a member of the Censor Board, also tweeted: :
 
 

He also told news agency ANI, "Aamir Khan is a star who doesn't need publicity, I respect him, but this is a very irresponsible statement. I am sad and appalled."

Actress Raveena Tandon, Aamir's love interest in Andaz Apna Apna, issued several tweets that hit out at 'those who did not want PM Modi to become PM' but was careful not to name Aamir:
 
 
 
 

Others criticizing Aamir include author Taslima Nasreen:
 

The prevailing wind among aam janata was firmly anti-Aamir:
 
 
 
 
 

A smaller chorus of voices have spoken for Aamir, among them Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Congress leaders Shashi Tharoor, Raj Babbar and Abhishek Singhvi and filmmaker Sanjay Gupta.
 
 

Shashi Tharoor was quoted by ANI as saying, "Nowhere was Aamir Khan's statement hostile to the government. He said it in a responsible way. He's a man who commands great national audience, he speaks for all Indians. You can't reduce people like Aamir and Shah Rukh to one community or a particular point of view. They are speaking as individuals who really have shown over the years tremendous concern and patriotism for country."

Abhishek Singhvi told ANI, "What Aamir Khan said in the presence of senior BJP leaders is what millions in country feel."

Congress leader Raj Babbar also supported Aamir, saying that he had a lot of 'respect' for the actor since he spoke 'on behalf of everyone.' He said, "People should not dissect one statement and make fun of a person. People should understand that Aamir made those remarks because he was concerned about his family. Aamir is a mature individual and people should value him and understand his feelings."

Director Saeed Mirza said the actor should be allowed to express 'his point of view.' "Look, you have points of view. Let them be heard. I heard about the statement of Aamir Khan this morning. In fact, I read about it. He has a point of view, let it be heard. We can debate it, but you can't have a statement being made and charges being levelled against a person who has made that statement" Mr Mirza told news agency IANS on the sidelines of a student's film festival in Panaji.

Actor Raza Murad, who had supported Aamir when his film PK was being targeted by fringe groups, told news agency ANI, "Aamir Khan and Kiran Rao are citizens of this country, they have a right to their opinion,"

Aamir, meanwhile, is taking a week-long break from filming sports biopic Dangal after a shoulder injury forced him off set. Dangal, in which Aamir plays wrestler Mahavir Phogat, also stars Sakshi Tanwar and releases next year.
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