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Aamir Khan’s statement condemning the Pahalgam terror attack on April 22 came over a week later after India and Pakistan had agreed on a ceasefire post India’s retaliatory military attack on terror camps in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor. Now, the actor has opened up on why he responded to the attack days after many of his fellow industry members did.
“The terror attack was cruel. It only demonstrates the terrorists’ cowardice that they entered our country and fired bullets on common men. You or I could’ve also been there. They asked their religion and then fired bullets. What does that mean,” said Aamir, adding, “I’m not on social media. People react instantly to these events there.”
In the interview with India TV, Aamir did remind everyone he spoke about the Pahalgam terror attack at an event he attended around the same time. “That was an attack not only on our nation, but also on our unity. They’ve already got a befitting response from our country,” said Aamir.
Responding to claims that he spoke up only because his film Sitaare Zameen Par is nearing release, Aamir chuckled and said, “If I speak about our forces delivering a befitting response, then am I doing something wrong? Should I think about the film or about our forces at that time? If I keep quiet just because my film is about to release, I feel that’s wrong. So I spoke about it openly.”
Aamir clarified that the Sitaare Zameen Par trailer releasing just 12 hours after his official statement was a mere coincidence. “The trailer was supposed to release much earlier. I cancelled it because of the attack on our nation. I cancelled the premiere of Andaz Apna Apna that day,” explained Aamir. His 1994 cult comedy, Rajkumar Santoshi’s Andaz Apna Apna, was re-released in cinemas on April 25.
“Like every Indian’s, there was a lot of anger and pain in my heart too. In fact, I was so depressed I didn’t step out of home for days,” confessed Aamir. “My patriotism reflects in my work. Watch Rang De Basanti (2006), Lagaan (2001), Sarfarosh (1999). I don’t think any other actor has done more patriotic films than I have,” claimed Aamir.
He recalled an instance of meeting the late legendary actor Manoj Kumar, who was referred to as “Bharat” Kumar because of his brand of patriotic cinema. “Manoj ji told me, ‘If there’s someone who’s a patriot and doing something for the nation in the generation after mine, it’s you.’ He’d seen my films,” revealed Aamir. The actor has faced a lot of trolling for years, especially before his films release. Many believe that Laal Singh Chaddha’s initial box office performance was impacted due to the wave of social media hate against Aamir.
Aamir also defended Islam by saying that it doesn’t endorse violence. “No religion asks you to kill people. I don’t consider these terrorists Muslims because it’s written in Islam that you can’t kill any innocent human, can’t strike a woman or a child. They’re going against the religion by doing what they are doing,” said Aamir.
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