Close X
Friday, November 8, 2024
ADVT 
Bollywood

They Say I Am Anti-Hindu But I Say I Am Anti-modi, Anti-Amit Shah: Prakash Raj

Darpan News Desk IANS, 18 Jan, 2018 01:04 PM
  • They Say I Am Anti-Hindu But I Say I Am Anti-modi, Anti-Amit Shah: Prakash Raj
Actor Prakash Raj said on Thursday that he was not anti-Hindu as alleged by critics but only anti-Modi.
 
 
"They say I am anti-Hindu but I say I am anti-Modi, anti-Amit Shah and anti-Hegde," the actor said at the India Today South conclave here. 
 
 
He was referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP President Amit Shah and BJP leader-cum-central minister Anant Kumar Hegde.
 
 
The actor went on to say that those who support "killers" cannot be called Hindus.
 
 
He said the Prime Minister remained silent when he appealed to him to speak out when some Modi supporters celebrated the killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh.
 
 
"A true Hindu cannot support such activity," said Prakash Raj, a friend of the slain woman journalist.
 
 
The actor's remarks evoked protest from the BJP spokesman in Telangana, Krishna Sagar Rao, who was in the audience.
 
 
The actor defended his stand. "When you can call me anti-Hindu, I have every right to say you are not Hindu," he said.
 
 
VISHAL, PRAKASH RAJ HAIL SC ORDER ON 'PADMAAVAT'
 
 
Actors Vishal and Prakash Raj and film director S.K. Sasidharan on Thursday hailed the Supreme Court order staying the ban by three states on the release of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Padmaavat".
 
 
"Justice has prevailed at the end of the day," said Tamil actor Vishal, reacting to the apex court's Thursday order striking down notifications by the Gujarat, Rajasthan and Haryana governments.
 
 
The court said it was incumbent upon the state governments to ensure law and order.
 
 
Prakash Raj, a leading south Indian actor, said the state governments were citing reasons of law and order for their action.
 
 
"These state governments should step down because they are not fit to be there," he said, alleging that they were catering to fringe groups for votes.
 
 
 
 
The actors and the director were speaking at India Today Conclave South here.
 
 
Prakash Raj said the ban on release of the movie was a blatant attack on freedom of expression.
 
 
"I can understand if Rajputs in Rajasthan had some objections to it. (But) what did Gujarat and Haryana have to do with it," he asked.
 
 
"They wanted to cut head and nose and they ended up cutting an 'i'," he said referring to the Censor Board clearing the movie after removing "i" from its earlier title "Padmavati".
 
 
Welcoming the Supreme Court order, Vishal said he was the second-most happiest person after Bhansali.
 
 
Voicing concern over increasing number of restrictions on filmmaking, he said the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) was there to give certification and not to censor movies.
 
 
Sasidharan, whose movie "Sexy Durga" was given certification -- which was later rescinded, took objections to questions from moderator as to why he did not make films using the names of holy personalities of other religions.
 
 
 
 
"I can answer why I made 'Sexy Durga' but these questions are aimed at dividing people. You want to pit one section of people against other," the director said.
 
 
Defending Sasidharan, Prakash Raj wondered why anybody should have objection to the title when the filmmaker has already made it clear that the film is not against Hinduism.
 
 
"They have no problem with Durga Wines, Durga mutton shop or Shiva mutton shop. There is a subject and thought process which I want to express and it decides my title but they want to divide people through such questions," he said.
 

MORE Bollywood ARTICLES

'Judwaa 2' cast to meet Salman on 'Bigg Boss'

'Judwaa 2' cast to meet Salman on 'Bigg Boss'
Superstar Salman Khan, who is set to host "Bigg Boss 11", will have "Judwaa 2" actors Varun Dhawan, Jacqueline Fernandez and Taapsee Pannu as his guests during the opening episode of the upcoming show.

'Judwaa 2' cast to meet Salman on 'Bigg Boss'

'83 more than a great cricket story: Ranveer

'83 more than a great cricket story: Ranveer
Actor Ranveer Singh says that his upcoming movie on India winning the 1983 World Cup is more than just a great cricket story.

'83 more than a great cricket story: Ranveer

Playing Big B onscreen most difficult task of my life, says Shilpa Shetty

Playing Big B onscreen most difficult task of my life, says Shilpa Shetty
Actress Shilpa Shetty Kundra will next be seen disguising herself as megastar Amitabh Bachchan in filmmaker Farah Khans TV show "Lip Sing Battle". She says playing Amitabh onscreen was the most different task of her life.

Playing Big B onscreen most difficult task of my life, says Shilpa Shetty

Shah Rukh Khan is my muse: Farah Khan

Shah Rukh Khan is my muse: Farah Khan
Choreographer-filmmaker Farah Khan says Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan is her muse. She feels whenever the two work together for a film, they create magic.

Shah Rukh Khan is my muse: Farah Khan

Milind Soman to co-judge 'India's Next Top Model Season 3'

Supermodel-actor Milind Soman will be seen co-judging the third season of "Indias Next Top Model" on MTV along with actress Malaika Arora.

Milind Soman to co-judge 'India's Next Top Model Season 3'

Working with Bhansali has been a privilege, says Shahid

Working with Bhansali has been a privilege, says Shahid
Actor Shahid Kapoor, who is gearing up for the release of "Padmavati", says it has been a privilege for him to work with filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali for the upcoming film.

Working with Bhansali has been a privilege, says Shahid