Naseeruddin Shah, in an interview earlier this month, bemoaned the plight of the country and the society that gave more importance to the life of a cow than a police office, and the increasing incidents of hate against muslims. However, Anupam Kher disagreed with Shah, and believed there is enough freedom to dissent in the country.
Referring to the Bulandshahr incident, Shah said he worried about his children, who, having not had a religious upbringing, would be at a loss of words if they were to be surrounded by a mob and questioned about their religion.
“We chose not to give any religious education to our children. We have taught them only about good and bad. I feel anxious about my children because tomorrow if a mob surrounds them and asks them, “Are you a Hindu or a Muslim?” they will have no answer,” said the actor.
An ET report says Anupam Kher responded to Naseeruddin’s statements. Kher who was at the trailer launch of his new movie The Accidental Prime Minister, said, “There is freedom to say anything in the country so much so that you can abuse even the Army… How much more freedom do you want?”
Kher also said that he didn’t wish to engage with Naseeruddin Shah through the media over his remarks on society and religion. Describing Shah as his senior, Kher said that they could always reach out to each other and hug it out.
He also recalled an incident when Shah was one of the first people to notice when he bought a new car. “For me, that moment is more important. As life goes by, you can disagree with one another’s ideas. He is a respectable actor and my senior. If I have to say anything, I will pick up the phone or go to his house and say, “Let’s fight or hug it out’. I don’t want to say anything through the press,” he added. Shah was Kher’s senior at the National School of Drama.
Naseeruddin Shah has in the past complained about being targeted for being a Muslim. The actor came under criticism in October 2015 for the remarks he made during Pakistan foreign minister Khurshid Kusuri’s book launch. Shah said he was singled out even though the other panellists had made far more pertinent comments than his.
“My name is Naseeruddin Shah and I believe that’s why I was targeted. It really pains me to say this. I have never ever been aware of my identity until now,” the actor said.
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Last year, the actor wrote “I cannot, from my lifetime, recall a period when Muslims were suspected en masse of being unpatriotic and required to explain themselves. The sins of the few have been visited on us all.”
“It seems essential for Muslims in India to get over the feeling of victimisation they are in now; it is a trap all too easy to stumble into – we must determine to stop feeling persecuted, all evidence to the contrary notwithstanding; we must stop hoping for salvation from somewhere and take matters into our own hands- not least of all to take pride in our Indian-ness and assert our claim on our country,” he wrote.
Image Courtesy: Indian Today