Shah Rukh Khan – I would give up my awards as a symbolic gesture

Shah Rukh Khan the name itself inspire awe among his fans. Today is an important date for the Badshah and his family, friends and fans as the actor has covered half a century of his lifetime. Yes! King Khan is celebrating his 50th birthday today.

The Khan while addressing a Twitter town hall organised by a famous publication spoke about the ongoing wave of returning the government awards and honours to support students from the Film and Television Institute of India, Pune. The students are protesting the appointment of Gajendra Chauhan as the institute’s chairman.

Khan said, “I appreciate their decision to return their awards to highlight the growing intolerance in the country, I have not been in a situation like that. But I respect the people. If they think this gesture is going to turn things around, it is very brave, very honest… As far as I am concerned, I have not participated in something as meaningful as they have. But, Yes, as a symbolic gesture I would give it up… I do think there is intolerance. There is extreme intolerance. I also think that the biggest mistake a patriot can make was to go against secularism in India. If I do take a stand, I’ll stand by it”

On being targeted as a Muslim where he had to time and again explain himself his take was “No one can question my patriotism. How dare anyone?”

Picture Courtesy – Thenewsteller.com