This Article is From Jul 04, 2016

Salman's Rape Comment Was Insensitive, Says Aamir Khan

Highlights

  • I feel what he said was unfortunate and rather insensitive, said Aamir
  • Salman said training for wrestler's role made him feel 'like raped woman'
  • Aamir is the first top star to slam Salman's comment
New Delhi: Actor Aamir Khan has branded his colleague Salman Khan's rape comment as 'insensitive,' in what is possibly the first piece of unqualified condemnation of the controversial remark from a Bollywood A-lister.

"I wasn't present when he made the comment but going by media reports, I feel what he said was unfortunate and rather insensitive," Aamir, 51, said while launching the poster of his film Dangal in Mumbai on Monday. Aamir and Salman are friends and co-starred in Nineties cult comedy Andaz Apna Apna.

Aamir also said he hasn't met Salman since he made the rape comment and, asked if he would offer his colleague advice, told the press, "Who am I to advise?"

Two weekends ago, Salman Khan described the shattering effects of filming the wrestling scenes in his movie Sultan in these terms: "When I used to walk out of the ring, after the shoot, I used to feel like a raped woman. I couldn't walk straight."

His comment was greeted with howls of outrage on social media but industrywallahs have largely been silent. Last week, Shah Rukh Khan told the press that he could not pass judgement on his Karan Arjun. Actress Kangana Ranaut described the rape analogy as a "horrible thing to say" but also cautioned against pointing fingers.

Salman Khan has been summoned twice by the National Commission of Women to apologise for the comment. Last Wednesday, he failed to show up in response to the summons and sent a lawyer's letter instead. Lalitha Kumaramangalam, chief of the women's body, said, "from the first prelude of the letter, he hasn't apologised." He has been summoned again on July 8.

Twitter has noted Aamir Khan's statement:
 
 

At the Dangal event, Aamir also said, "Religion is a personal thing, he has a right to his opinion," when asked about actor Irrfan Khan's questioning of Ramzan fasts. "We have forgotten the real meaning of rituals. We have made them a tamasha (scene). Qurbani means sacrificing something close to your heart and sharing with others. Today, you buy a goat from the market for sacrifice. It is something to think about, it is a matter of common sense, we all should ask ourselves how sacrificing another life earns us any goodwill," Irrfan said last week while promoting his film Madaari.  

Dangal, which stars Aamir Khan as wrestler Mahavir Phogat, releases this December.
 
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