Actor Salman Khan’s comment at a media interaction where he compared his physically draining schedule of his upcoming movie ‘Sultan’ to the agony of a rape victim sparked a national furore. Social media went bombastic on the ‘insensitive’ comment and the National Commission for Women asked the star to apologise in a week’s time.
dna got hands on the audio clip of the group interaction, which was reported by an online entertainment portal in part leading to the outrage. The journalists were heard asking him the difficulties in playing the role of a wrestler in the movie and this is exactly what Salman said.
However, as soon as Salman uttered those words, he realised he had probably made a mistake and hence added for good measure, “I don’t think you should… (inaudible).”
The rape analogy drew bitter response from across the country. The National Commission for Women (NCW), a government-run body for women’s rights, took notice and wrote to Khan demanding a public apology within seven days. “He has demonstrated the patriarchal mindset that is prevalent in this country – unfortunately, he will get away with it,” Lalitha Kumaramangalam, the NCW chairwoman, told a TV channel.
Filmmaker Anurag Kashyap criticised Salman saying the rape analogy was “thoughtless” and “daft” of him to make such a remark. He also questioned the journalist, interviewing him, for allegedly laughing over the comment.
The NCP’s women’s wing lodged a police complaint against the actor and also staged a protest in Nagpur.
As fans and media crowded Salman’s Bandra apartment, expecting a response from Salman, it was his dad Salim Khan who issued an apology on Twitter. “Undoubtedly what Salman said is wrong, the simili (sic), example and the context. The intention was not wrong. Nevertheless I apologise on behalf of his family his fans & his friends. Forgiveness is to pardon the unpardonable or it is no virtue at all. To err is human to forgive divine. Today on Intl yoga day lets not run our shops on this mistake (sic),” he tweeted.
