Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan, who was at the centre of a controversy over his comments on intolerance, attended a dinner hosted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi last night. Besides Aamir, actress Kangana Ranaut was also invited at the private dinner held in Turf Club where top politicians, diplomats from several countries and industry leaders were in attendance. The high-profile event, which was a strict no-media affair, was organised after Modi launched the mega Make in India (MII) week here earlier yesterday.
Wading into the "intolerance" debate, the "Ghajini" star had kicked up a controversy last year by saying he has been "alarmed" by a number of incidents and his wife Kiran Rao even suggested that they should probably leave India. His comments evoked sharp criticism from ruling BJP and also the NDA government. Later, the 50-year-old actor's contract as brand ambassador for the government's Incredible India campaign was not renewed by the Tourism Ministry.
Kangana, 28, had recently said freedom of speech in the country does not mean one can insult anybody and stated that actors should be more careful with what they say.
The 'Make in India' event is aimed at attracting investments into the manufacturing sector and showcasing success stories at a specially-created venue at the Bandra-Kurla Complex in Mumbai. PTI JUR GK RSY PSH GSN JCH
Khan had found himself in the midst of ire from citizens from different walks of life, including some members of the Bollywood fraternity after he'd said that he was shocked by some incidents of intolerance in the country, adding that his wife Kiran Rao had even suggested leaving the country.
"As an individual, as part of this country as a citizen, we read in the papers what is happening, we see it on the news and certainly, I have been alarmed. I can't deny. I have been alarmed by a number of incidents," he said while speaking here at the Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards.
"When I chat with Kiran at home, she says 'Should we move out of India?' That's a disastrous and big statement for Kiran to make. She fears for her child. She fears about what the atmosphere around us will be. She feels scared to open the newspapers every day. That does indicate that there is this sense of growing disquiet, there is growing despondency apart from alarm. You feel why this is happening, you feel low. That sense does exist in me," 50-year-old Khan said.
An untowardly and unexpected outcome of this was people uninstalling the Snapdeal mobile app -- Aamir Khan is the brand ambassador of Snapdeal -- saying that they will not shop on the app or the website till the actor is removed as brand ambassador.
With inputs from agencies
