SRK says intolerance will hurt nation

Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who turned 50 on Monday, came out strongly against what he called “extreme intolerance” in the country. He said intolerance towards creativity and religion will hurt the country.

Lending his voice to growing protests and return of awards by filmmakers, scientists, writers and historians over the ‘climate of intolerance’, the actor said while he had no national film award to return, he respects the decision of filmmakers like Dibakar Banerjee and Anand Patwardhan to give back the honour.

Shah Rukh, who became the biggest celebrity from Bollywood to rally behind the intelligentsia, was addressing a news conference in connection with his 50th birthday. “If there is intolerance to creativity, intolerance through religion, we are taking away every step that the nation is taking forward,” he said.

“I think creativity is very secure. It has no religion, caste or creed... Creative people shouldn’t be told what religion creativity belongs to,” Shah Rukh said, adding, “when we start questioning creativity we are doing disservice to the nation.”

Banerjee’s decision to return the national award was criticised by his “Khosla Ka Ghosla” star Anupam Kher and director Madhur Bhandarkar, but Shah Rukh said tolerance meant they were free to give differing views.

“Symbolically when some of the people have done that, they have not only been brave but it is also a great gesture. I think it’s a right thing to do. I am symbolically with them,” he said.

Shah Rukh earlier in the day said that he respects those who returned awards but he does not have to follow suit. Padma Shri is among the awards in Shah Rukh’s kitty.