Aamir Khan. File photoPanaji: In a statement that is likely to invite the wrath of the right-wing activists, a Pakistani film director has come out backing the comment made by Bollywood actor Aamir Khan on intolerance in the country.
Pakistani filmmaker Jamshed Mahmood Raza said, "If Aamir Khan is speaking out about intolerance and facing a backlash, the Indian actor is probably in the right."
"If Aamir had to face a backlash after speaking about intolerance, then one has to think that maybe he is right. It is Aamir Khan who is saying this. He is one of your best. He is one of your best actors and activists and he is a hard core Indian and it is in his blood..." Raza, whose film Moor is part of the IFFI-15, told reporters reporters here on Tuesday.
Moor is Pakistan's official entry to the Academy Awards this year. Raza said he admired Aamir and was amused by his contribution to the Indian filmdom.
"We have gone through this a lot of times in Pakistan also and seeing this happening to Aamir Khan is not fair. It is sad," Raza said.
Earlier addressing a press meet, Raza said the Pakistani films quality went down drastically after the country stopped screening Indian films post 1971-war. "Our film industry died as we didn't have any quality films to compete with. And it's recuperating now," he said.
Celebrated Bollywood actor Aamir Khan faced backlash from several corners after he said he has been "alarmed" by a number of incidences and his wife Kiran Rao even suggested that they should move out of the country.
The actor said he also feels that the sense of insecurity and fear has been growing in the past six or eight months.
Rajkumar Hirani keeps mum
Meanwhile, Bollywood director Rajkumar Hirani refused to comment on the issue despite repeated queries from reporters. Hirani, who was here to attend an event in connection with the IFFI, rejected to offer a statement and left the venue in a hurry. Hirani and Aamir's last release, PK which questioned religious fundamentalism and blind faith was a blockbuster.
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