When Priyanka Chopra protested boycott calls against Shah Rukh Khan’s Dilwale, Bajirao Mastani: ‘Not the India I grew up in’

Priyanka Chopra was asked about her Twitter statement in an interview with NDTV. She said, “This is not what the India I grew up in taught me. I was told Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Isai bhai-bhai every day in my assembly. And now what is happening? Based on religion we are dividing people?” Asked what made her tweet the comments, she said, “Bajirao was releasing, Dilwale was releasing, there was so much going on about bans and boycotts, based on religion. I don’t understand this. This is not how my parents raised me, they raised me to… If you think something, say something.”

I can’t help staying silent on this anymore.. It’s too sad to see how films and actors become political (cont) https://t.co/GdD78aTofD

— PRIYANKA (@priyankachopra) December 17, 2015

Priyanka said that everybody warns her to watch her words, and that she is concerned about being told to ‘leave the country’ or apologise, or being called ‘anti-national’. Priyanka actually ended up leaving the country, and is now based in Los Angeles, having established herself in Hollywood. In her original tweet, she had written, “I can’t help staying silent on this anymore.. It’s too sad to see how films and actors become political pawns! Bans based on baseless propaganda.. Holding films ransom just before they release so that publicity can be garnered for certain agendas by forcing a producer to their knees.. How does no one speak up for what is right? How is this fair?”

Recently, actor Naseeruddin Shah explained why the film industry chooses to stay silent about politics these days. He told Indianexpress.com, “To make your voice heard, if it carries any weight; to not participate in movies which clash with your own beliefs, or any work which clashes with your beliefs. To make one’s voice heard, which is unfortunately not the case with a lot of people whose voice, if it were raised, would make a difference. But they’re all scared. They all want to be on the winning side.”