Salman Khan: Differently-Abled Shouldn't be Deprived of Films

New Delhi: Bollywood star Salman Khan on Tuesday sent a special video message for differently-abled children who watched his film Bajrangi Bhaijaan at the first International Film Festival for Persons with Disabilities (IFFPwD). The actor said that despite all odds, such people should be provided with all facilities at theatres.

Salman, who is currently busy shooting for Sultan, was not able to attend the screening. Bajrangi Bhaijaan director Kabir Khan and child actress Harshaali Malhotra, who played the role of a speech-impaired girl in the film, were present at the venue.

In the video message, the Dabangg actor said, "I should have been a part of this festival, but due to my packed shooting schedule for Sultan, I couldn't be there physically. But from my heart and soul, I am always up for such causes. To start a film festival especially for differently-abled is a really noble thought."

Salman said cinema was a 'big part of Indian culture', so the differently-abled should not be deprived from watching films.

The 49-year-old said, "Cinema, movies or entertainment are a big part of Indian culture, but I don't see differently-abled getting a chance to view films in theatres as most of them (theatres) don't have wheel chairs and other facilities.

I don't understand why the differently abled people should be left out of this. I feel very fortunate to have all my senses. But there are many who can see but not hear and some who can hear but not see, they all should go and enjoy and should be provided with the necessary facilities."

During a question-answer session, Kabir Khan said that while he was making Bajrangi Bhaijaan, he never thought of focusing on the issue of differently-abled people, but in the entire film, everyone treated Munni like a normal person.

"Bajrangi Bhaijaan is a very special film for Salman and me because there is a very special character of Munni in it. While making the film, I never thought of her being a physically challenged child.

"The important thing that we wanted to show was that everyone forgets that Munni is disabled, we wanted to bring in that dignity and spirit of normal person in her and treat her like normal, regular person," Kabir said.

Bajrangi Bhaijaan, which released on July 17 and collected more than Rs 600 crores at the box office, also co-starred Kareena Kapoor Khan and Nawazuddin Siddiqui.

The three-day festival, organised by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD) in collaboration with the National Film Development Corporation (NFDC), started with the screening of Marathi film Yellow on Tuesday at the Siri Fort auditorium.It will screen 40 Indian language and international films - 16 short films, 14 documentaries and 10 features (7 fiction and 3 documentary films) before coming to an end on Thursday.