United Bollywood not needed to support Shah Rukh Khan: Anupam Kher

Bollywood had shied away from publicly standing for Shah Rukh Khan during the Shiv Sena controversy but veteran actor Anupam Kher believes such unity is only needed at the time of national calamity and not to support an individual.

"Why should we come out together? We come out together when there is a national calamity. We come out together when there are issues related to the nation," Kher said.

He was responding to a query why Bollywood has not come out together as one unit to support Shah Rukh Khan, when Shiv Sena opposed screening of 'My Name Is Khan' (MNIK) to protest against the actor's remarks favouring inclusion of Pakistani cricketers in the IPL.

"I don't think this (controversy over MNIK release) should be treated as a viable means to come together. It's important everybody has an individual (opinion). There is no forum to come together," he added.
    
The Sena had opposed the release of MNIK in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra. Activists of Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Brajang Dal also did the same in Ahmedabad.

Baring some supportive tweets from actors like Hrithik Roshan, Riteish Deshmukh and Priyanka Chopra, many prominent members including Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Yash Chopra remained silent on the issue.
    
In the past also, Bollywood had not come together to support Aamir Khan after the screening of his film Fanaa was disrupted by right wing activists over his support to the Narmada Bachao Andolan in 2006.