Will film industry make a movie on wrestling protesters? Naseeruddin Shah answers
2 min read 30 May 2023, 06:38 PM ISTActor Naseeruddin Shah said that Hindi film industry generally stays ‘mum on important issues'
PremiumOn being asked if Bollywood will make a movie on the protesting wrestlers in the national capital, Taj actor Naseeruddin Shah said that the Hindi film industry was never the one to roll up its sleeves and tackle issues head-on.
Click here to catch latest updates on wrestlers protest
The septuagenarian actor and a vocal critic of the BJP-led central government said there is nothing new about the Hindi film industry's stance on staying ‘mum on important issues’.
The actor has also faced criticism for his comments on the central government in the past. Naseeruddin Shah is one of the esteemed actors in the Bollywood industry. He made a powerful comeback with his role as emperor Akbar in Zee5's period drama, “Taj: Reign of Revenge"
Also Read: Wrestlers protest: Sakshi Malik and others plan to throw medal in Ganga river in Haridwar today
On the ongoing wrestlers' protest, he said, “When has the Hindi film industry ever rolled up its sleeves and tackled a subject which is crying out to be tackled? Will anyone make a film on these girl wrestlers, who brought us medals...? Will anyone dare make a film? Because they are scared of the repercussions."
He also added that the Hindi film industry's aversion to burning social issues is not new as makers and artists are always scared of repercussions. It has been more than a month, and star wrestlers like Sakshi Malik, Phogat sisters, and Bajrang Punia are protesting against the Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) chief and BJP MP Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh. They are demanding the arrest of the WFI chief over sexual harassment charges. Days ago, award-winning wrestlers were detained by the police, and their tents were removed from the protesting sites at Jantar Mantar, Delhi.
Also Read: Protesting wrestlers reach Haridwar to throw their medals in Ganga | Watch
“The atmosphere of hate makes it worse, makes it stronger, and that's why this is happening. So, everyone is scared. Not that the Hindi film industry was particularly politically or socially aware at any stage. You had filmmakers like K A Abbas, V Shantaram, very progressive movies," said Shah on Tuesday.
‘Right now it is Muslim hate’
Talking about the recent trend prevailing in the Indian film industry right now, Shah said, "Right now, it is Muslim hate, which is very, very popular." He expressed his opinion that people in the industry are “scared of the amount they have to lose and the personal harassment."
Also Read: Delhi Capitals Chairman Parth Jindal backs wrestlers' protest, says ‘no one should mistreat them'
He went ahead and called the arrest of Aryan Khan as a warning from the centre that this can happen to anybody who raises a voice against the government.
"I think the imprisonment of young Aryan Khan was a message that if we can do this (to) Shah Rukh (Khan) we can do it to anybody, so watch out. That was the message," he said.
Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan was arrested in a drugs case by the Narcotics Control Bureau in 2021. He was later granted bail. He expressed his concern on the issue calling it an indication that society "seems to be heading backward and that is very scary."
He also recalled an incident when a person had sent him a fully funded ticket to Pakistan.
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