Rajkummar Rao – Returning National award is a courageous act

National-award wining actor Rajkummar Rao says he respects the decision of filmmakers returning their National awards, calling it a “courageous” move.

Earlier this week, ten filmmakers, including Dibakar Banerjee and “Hunterr” director Harshvardhan Kulkarni, returned their National awards over “growing intolerance” and support for FTII students.

Rajkummar, who bagged a National award for “Shahid”, made his debut with Dibakar’s “Love Sex aur Dhoka”.

“Being from FTII, I can absolutely understand what the students are going through. It’s very courageous of the people who are returning their National awards. Its a way of protest… I respect their decision,” the actor told reporters here.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the premiere of his real-life inspired drama “Aligarh” at the 17th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.

The Hansal Mehta-directed film also stars Manoj Bajpayee and is based on the real life incident of professor Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, who was fired from his job because of his sexual orientation.

When asked if the film might run into trouble with the government given its bold theme, the 31-year-old “Queen” actor said, “Government? The movie has been made for the nation and the audience. They are ready to watch all kinds of cinema today. There’s nothing controversial in the film. These things are happening around us.”

Inputs by PTI