Regardless Of How His Films Perform At Box Office, That Halo's Never Coming Back For Aamir Khan

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan's upcoming movie Laal Singh Chaddha is facing calls for its boycott, on social media. Many people supporting the boycott cite Khan's '2015 intolerance remark' as the reason for their decision.

Called India "Unsafe"

Back in 2015, the actor had said at an event that his wife Kiran Rao asked him if they should leave the country as she feared for the safety of their children 'in the climate of insecurity’.

He had said that he felt "alarmed" while seeing the news and supported those who were returning their awards over the supposedly growing intolerance in the country.

While Khan had clarified the following day itself that neither he nor Rao had any intention of leaving the country, he could not remove the remarks from public memory.

Now, Khan has had to clarify his 2015 statement again. He responded to the boycott calls by saying, "Yes, I feel sad. Also, I feel sad that some of the people who are saying this, in their hearts, believe that I am someone who doesn't like India."

Khan said that that this was untrue and he "really loves the country". He also requested people not to boycott his film and to "please watch" it.

Passed 'Judgements' on Gujarat Riots 2002

However, the '2015 intolerance remark' is not the only episode Khan is facing public ire for. He is also being criticised for his views on the 2002 post-Godhra riots in Gujarat.

In an interview that he gave to NDTV in 2005, he said, "According to me somebody like Modi, I mean, there were innocent Indians being killed. It is completely irrelevant to be it they were Hindus, Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Paris' or whoever. There were Indians being killed by someone who is supposedly a leader and he is responsible, he and his party are responsible for the killings and high trauma on thousands of Indians."

Supported Campaign Against Sardar Sarovar Dam

Apart from blaming Modi for the Gujarat riots, Khan also supported Medha Patkar, who was opposing the Gujarat government's decision to increase the height of the Sardar Sarovar Dam on the Narmada river.

He gathered at Jantar Mantar, along with his Rang De Basanti co-stars, and actively participated in the 'Narmada Bachao Andolan'.

He clarified his stance on the same when his movie Fanaa faced protests in Gujarat and said that he is not opposed to the dam construction; instead, he just wanted that the people who have been 'ousted' by the construction of the dam should get alternative accommodation. Although, he added that he was not going to apologise.

Disrespected Hindu Gods and Goddesses

Aamir Khan's 2014 movie, PK, mocked the Hindu faith and rituals. In one of the scenes, Khan's character was shown urinating next to a suitcase that had stickers of Hindu Gods and Goddesses. The camera further pans to those images bringing them into focus. In another objectionable depiction, the protagonist played by Khan was seen threatening and chasing a man dressed as Lord Shiva.

Netizens pointed out this blatant disrespect of Hinduism was depicted in the film, even as Khan, in personal life, remains a practising Muslim. (In the context of the PK, a major part of the blame also goes to the director and producer of the movie, Raj Kumar Hirani and Vidhu Vinod Chopra, respectively).

Seen In The Company of Turkey’s First Lady

Aamir Khan attracted another controversy when he met Turkish First Lady Emine Erdogan at the presidential residence in Istanbul in 2020. It should be noted that the meeting came at a time when the bilateral relations between the two countries were deteriorating over growing Islamisation in Turkey.

The Actor Paying for the Activist

Khan had always been vocal about his political leanings. Outside of his films, he portrayed himself as an 'intellectual in Bollywood', a 'social thinker' who was more 'aware' than his peers, and far ahead of his times. At a time when news channels like NDTV were at the helm of public opinion-making, voices like that of Khan were provided ample platform to sermonise the 'lesser mortals' on how they should be thinking.

However, with the advent of social media, the monopoly of the so-called left-liberal consensus over popular culture began weakening. Aamir Khan, too, is bearing the brunt of the backlash that came in its wake.

Khan consciously used his stardom, which he cultivated based on his artistic abilities, to amplify his views on politics and society. Now, that the chickens have come home to roost, Khan the actor is facing outrage because of Khan, the political activist.