Close X
Thursday, November 28, 2024
ADVT 
Bollywood

Disability Rights Group condemns 'Wazir' director; team apologises

Darpan News Desk IANS, 05 Jan, 2016 11:14 AM
    Disabled Rights Group (DRG), led by disability rights activist Javed Abidi, on Tuesday condemned "Wazir" director Bejoy Nambiar's remarks on "limiting" megastar Amitabh Bachchan's persona in a wheelchair. The film's team has apologised for hurting sentiments, if any.
     
    DRG demanded an apology for Nambiar's "disparaging" statement wherein he spoke about Amitabh's portrayal as a paralysed chess grandmaster.
     
    Nambiar had said: "Right from the beginning, we knew that the protagonist had to be on a wheelchair. Casting Mr. Bachchan, who has got such a strong persona, and limiting him in a wheelchair, was a big task for us to get used to.”
     
    This has spelt trouble for Nambiar. 
     
    DRG on Tuesday issued a statement that Nambiar's comments are "disparaging and extremely condescending towards people with disabilities, and highlights complete lack of knowledge, extremely archaic and derogatory perspectives that he has on disability".
     
    On their part, the team of "Wazir" -- Nambiar, as well as the film's co-writers Vidhu Vinod Chopra and Abhijat Joshi -- has apologised, but also clarified that "no malice" was ever intended.
     
    Nambiar told IANS: "I have no clue (about the issue)...that's the character he's (Amitabh is) playing... what is so wrong in what I'm saying?"
     
    Joshi said: "Absolutely nothing offensive was meant, that can be assured. There's not one percent malice towards anyone", while Chopra said: "How can he have malice? Our character is that (paralysed). Amitabh Bachchan is playing that. We don't mean malice."
     
    Chopra, who is also a producer of the movie, said they "apologise if somebody's sentiments are hurt".
     
    DRG's convenor Javed Abidi, a wheelchair user for over 30 years, had said that he was "extremely shocked to read Nambiar's statement", which reflected a "regressive image of a person with disability in his mind".
     
    He expressed hope that "no matter what, from now onwards and upto the release of the film and beyond, in all the publicity and promotion of the movie, acute care must be taken that this kind of derogatory language is not used ever again".
     
    "Wazir", which also stars Farhan Akhtar and Aditi Rao Hydari, is revenge saga and a thriller with a unique friendship at its core. It is releasing on Friday. 

    MORE Bollywood ARTICLES

    Deepika Has Never Gone Over The Top: Bhansali

    Filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali says his "Bajirao Mastani" actress Deepika Padukone has never exaggerated a role in movies.

    Deepika Has Never Gone Over The Top: Bhansali

    Priyanka Chopra On 'Much Needed' Holiday

    Actress Priyanka Chopra, who has been working hard in 2015, has jetted off for her "much needed" holiday.

    Priyanka Chopra On 'Much Needed' Holiday

    Aishwarya To Feature In A Multi-Starrer Project

    Aishwarya To Feature In A Multi-Starrer Project
    After her comeback with "Jazbaa" this year, actress Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is now working on two plum films. And if a source is to be believed, she will also feature in a multi-starrer project.

    Aishwarya To Feature In A Multi-Starrer Project

    Rishi Kapoor, Mamata Banerjee Remember Rajesh Khanna

    Rishi Kapoor, Mamata Banerjee Remember Rajesh Khanna
    Rishi Kapoor took to Twitter to remember the late actor, with whom he had worked in films like "Zamana", "Ghar Parivar", and "Vijay".

    Rishi Kapoor, Mamata Banerjee Remember Rajesh Khanna

    Big B Shares Throwback Photograph With Raj Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor

    Big B Shares Throwback Photograph With Raj Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor
    Megastar Amitabh Bachchan has shared a throwback black and white photograph of himself along with legendary actors Raj Kapoor and Shashi Kapoor. 

    Big B Shares Throwback Photograph With Raj Kapoor, Shashi Kapoor

    Manoj Bajpayee Spending Quality Time With Family

    Manoj Bajpayee Spending Quality Time With Family
    Actor Manoj Bajpayee, who is currently awaiting the release of his forthcoming film "Aligarh", which talks about gender identity in the society, is spending some quality time with wife Shabana Raza and daughter Ava Nyla. 

    Manoj Bajpayee Spending Quality Time With Family