Aamir Khan's remarks 'innocent': Rajkumar Hirani

Director Rajkumar Hirani says that actor Aamir Khan's controversial statements were "innocent".

Published: Saturday,Nov 28, 2015 18:30 PM GMT-07:00

IANS

Director Rajkumar Hirani says that actor Aamir Khan's controversial statements were "innocent" and that the hype created because of it should've been ignored.

"If you take the answer what he said, he's clearly said, 'I feel distressed, I feel sad that my wife once said this to me.' To me, it was a very innocent answer," said Hirani at the Royal Stag Barrel Select Perfect Strokes Season 2 along with veteran writer Javed Akhtar.

"Perhaps he shared something from his family conversations with the public. And according to me, that (hype) should've been ignored. But the manner in which people have attacked him, I see a bit of intolerance in that, in certain sections," he added.

Hirani also said that people need to become "a bit more tolerant".

"I feel we need to pick up on positive things and talk about those things, we all need to be careful," he added.

The row began at the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards where numerous other issues were discussed but Aamir's statement that his wife suggested they leave the country was picked up everywhere, and was slammed and mocked at.

"If you analyse that interview, it's not that Aamir Khan called for a press conference and said, 'this is what I feel'. He was called for an award function. He was asked on various topics and one of the questions happened to be this (on intolerance)," Hirani said.

The Punjab unit of the Shiv Sena had offered Rs. 1 lakh to anyone who slapped Aamir, while another of its leaders said that the "PK" actor should go to Pakistan, while members of the Hindu Sena even booked tickets for Aamir and his family for Pakistan.

Aamir's religion also came into the picture among numerous negative remarks on the issue.

"And this fact was connected to the incident that he is a Muslim. This thought had never even come in our minds. I've celebrated every Diwali at Aamir's house. Today, I'm sitting with Javed sahab, but this thought that a Hindu and Muslim are sitting together didn't come to our minds," Hirani said.

"This thought should be the last thought. The manner in which this is spreading, I feel there is a certain divide that's been created," he added.

Hirani has delivered two blockbusters, "3 Idiots" and "PK" with Aamir.

ALSO READ: Aamir Khan, Ira Khan seek joint therapy together; former says, 'She pushed me down that path'

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Comments (8)

CherHorowitz @TotalBetty

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I read the entire interview and he was saying how bad the situation in India has become in the the past 6-8 months, even his wife said she is afraid to bring up their child here and asked him should we leave the country... For the 'first time' she felt that way... He didn't refute it, if anything he was agreeing with her...

He was mentioning it to validate his point that India has become unprecedentedly intolerance in the past 6-8 months...
He said there is an increasing sense of despondency in the country in the past 6-8 months( Well, when one party is ruling the country the opposition party is always despondent, no matter which country it is which party it is, right?)

If you read the entire IV it looked like he was condemning an entire nation...
His supporters claim he has the right to do that and I agree... At the same time I think others have the rights as well, to condemn his statements but without resorting to or promoting violence of course.

8 years ago

berrysweet @berrysweet

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Am not living in India .But love the fact that I am Indian. And am always proud to say that I am Indian. We have just been thinking of going back to India .. but this issue blown up to levels of ridicule is daunting. Hirani is right , it is not Amir's Khan comment that is unpleasant , it is the reaction that makes you aware that India is intolerant and divided. Am very very sad about this because India has always been beautiful in its religious unity. Whats happening?

8 years ago

5 Reply

basicquestion1 @basicquestion1

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I didn't know when Indians become NRI, they are actually all settled in Pakistan. Ha ha what a joke. Why Pakistan out of all the countries?? India is known to be tolerant but is it only tolerant towards Hindus? I think that's what shiv sena is trying to establish.

8 years ago

3 Reply

Shah67 @Shah67

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Aamir is an Indian and should have a right to express his views. Criticising one's country is also a form of patriotism. I am so happy that he did not apologize. Most people who are jumping on the "bash Aamir" bandwagon have not even read the entire transcript or watched the entire interview. Please inform yourselves before making such hateful comments.
And Shiv Sena has morphed into a totally useless organistion filled with hooligans with absolutely nothing constructive to do in their life. Jai Hind!

8 years ago

14 Reply

kashish @kashishk

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@betti he just that his wife said. People want to express so should they but not based on religion. He may not be hindu but he is an indian.so why just mention Pakistan
what would you say if a hindu indian wants to leave the country?
Expressing doesnt mean to make someone else's life a chaos.
Words are power that should be used wisely.
No offense intended

8 years ago

7 Reply

CherHorowitz @TotalBetty

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'Leaving the country' topic was started by him not others, he said he wanted to leave the country, so people said Bye-Bye, why does everybody keep forgetting that?
According to them he has the right to freedom of expression but others, 'Aam Janta' in particular don't have that right and are called bashers and other names...
But asking people to slap him? Really?!! That's despicable!
It's like they have joined hands with Mr Khan in destroying the country's and it's people's image... Amir and his supporters are playing victim and this gives credence to that

8 years ago

1 Reply

-Sush- @-Sush-

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While I fully support everyone's right to free speech, and understood why people were hurt by Aamir Khans statement, which felt like indictment of an entire nation...the reaction by the Shiv Sena to offer an award for slapping Aamir (?) is completely inappropriate and adds credence to the feeling of intolerance. Shame on you Shiv Sena for having no regard for civility!

I hope everyone who thinks India is indeed a tolerant country and shouldn't get the wrong international image will join me in condemning Shiv Senas statement.

8 years ago

12 Reply

Zinnia @Mogwai

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No one has the right to ask Aamir to leave the country. And why Pakistan? Because Aamir Khan is a Muslim? WOW! Racist mentality. And rewarding anyone who slaps Khan, now that is stooping to a new low. I don't know how anyone can even defend or justify these sort of things. It does not fit the image of the world's largest democracy. Reflection time, perhaps?

8 years ago

10 Reply