Close X
Sunday, November 10, 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

    Took Me Time To Convince People About My Vision: Farhan Akhtar

    Farhan Akhtar is currently one of the most creatively versatile celebrity in Hindi filmdom, but he says that when he set out to be a director with "Dil Chahta Hai" in 2001, he spent time to convince people of his vision and project.

    Took Me Time To Convince People About My Vision: Farhan Akhtar

    Nora Fatehi Found 'Real Friends' In 'Bigg Boss Nau'

    Nora Fatehi Found 'Real Friends' In 'Bigg Boss Nau'
    Nora, who entered the house as a wildcard contestant, believes she did well in the show despite being there only for a short duration.

    Nora Fatehi Found 'Real Friends' In 'Bigg Boss Nau'

    Riteish, Genelia Clock 13 Years In Filmdom

    Riteish, Genelia Clock 13 Years In Filmdom
    Actors and real life couple Riteish and Genelia Deshmukh have completed 13 years of their journey in the Hindi film fraternity.

    Riteish, Genelia Clock 13 Years In Filmdom

    Sushant Singh Rajput Quits Smoking

    He says he can "no longer can be friends" with cigarettes, which he once called his "best friend".

    Sushant Singh Rajput Quits Smoking

    Hrithik Takes An Auto Ride With Sons

    Hrithik Takes An Auto Ride With Sons
    Actor Hrithik Roshan ditched his expensive luxury cars to take his two sons Hrehaan and Hridhaan Roshan on an auto-rickshaw ride.

    Hrithik Takes An Auto Ride With Sons

    Ajay Used Over 2000 Toys For One Scene In 'Shivaay'

    Ajay Devgn is said to have put to use over 2000 custom-made stuff toys for a particular scene in his directorial "Shivaay".

    Ajay Used Over 2000 Toys For One Scene In 'Shivaay'