Irrfan Khan on 'Intolerance': Everyone Has The Right to Speak Their Mind

New Delhi: Actor Irrfan Khan says celebrities are also part of this country and they have every right to express their opinion on national issues.

Irrfan, the latest star to join the ongoing intolerance debate, said 'shutting up one's mouth' was not a healthy sign for a growing society.

"I find it very strange when few people say that actors should act and they should not express their opinions on issues. Everybody has the right to speak their mind and concerns. If you are told to shut up then this is not a sign of a growing and healthy society," he said at the NDTV Indian of the Year Awards on February 2.

The 49-year-old Life of Pi star added that expressing an opinion was an individual approach and it was 'fine' if someone does not express his/her opinion. "That's an individual thing. Some people have an instinct of reacting on things while some people don't.

When Ang Lee came here, he was asked about his country's politics. And he said we don't speak about politics. This issue (intolerance) has been in news. We should feel safe to say whatever we want to say. We should be free to express ourselves," said the Piku actor.

Irrfan, who has been a popular face outside Bolllywood thanks to his successful Hollywood films including Jurassic World, said Indian cinema should speak the language of global audience to reach the outer world.

"Indian films need to reach world audience. For that it needs to find a new language. It needs to find a new way of storytelling. It is necessary to find the bigger audience. We cannot keep on making the similar kind of films every time. Audience's change in taste of cinema is bringing new actors at the forefront. And that's why we are here," he said.

Irrfan, known for his unique roles in films like Paan Singh Tomar and The Lunchbox, said he always opted for roles different from his previous outings because he got bored very quickly.

"Actually I get bored of things very easily. So, I can't repeat things. For me acting is a way of exploring things," he said.

Irrfan will next be seen in the Hollywood film Inferno opposite Tom Hanks and Tigmanshu Dhulia's gangster drama Yaara.