Hero or villain? You decide

Come to think of it, Salman has been lucky that all his maverick acts didn’t reach the public. Individuals like Subhash Ghai or Shah Rukh didn’t make an issue when Salman humiliated them publicly. Their stand should have taught Salman some lessons. Instead, it probably emboldened him. Now if Salman has really harassed Vivek, he should have known that Vivek — who shares quite a few temperamental traits with Salman — would definitely strike back. Opinions are divided in the film industry, but for the common man, Vivek is the decided hero.

Only a few days back, when Lata Mangeshkar organised an exhibition cricket match to raise funds for her hospital, she wanted Shah Rukh for the toss. Knowing that Shah Rukh’s movements are temporarily restricted following a spinal surgery, she was hesitant and told me to find out if Shah Rukh could make it. When I asked Shah Rukh, he said he would do it for the singer. It was not medically advisable, but he made his car crawl to avoid the bumps and covered the distance between Bandra to Nariman Point in two long hours. When his car arrived outside the stadium, Lata was so moved that she insisted on going out to receive him. I was moved by their mutual admiration and their rare gestures.

If such sincerity makes Shah Rukh what he is, Aamir’s impeccable reputation must have backed his artistic achievements when he was picked for the Padma Shri award this year. Even if Salman comes up with a series of stellar performances on screen, can you imagine someone recommending his name for such an award? What Salman needs is serious self-introspection. Friends like noted film writer Rumi Jafri must help him look inward. Let’s hope Salman will slow down before he hits the point of no return.

Un-neighbourly relations

Granted that Indo-Pak relations are strained. But a few basics should not suffer the chill. It’s unfortunate that diplomats from both sides have had to wait for visas for months now. While the Pakistani Government is still sitting on applications, India took as much as three months to clear the visa papers of acting Pak High Commissioner Munawar Saeed. Prime Minister Jamali’s nephew, Khalid Jamali, is to be posted as the Third Secretary in New Delhi but his visa application is also pending for three months now. Such attitude will not get us anywhere. However, the onus is on Pakistan as Islamabad is yet to reciprocate India’s decision and open its airspace for Air India flights to Europe and the Gulf. The Indian Government should also consider allowing landing right to PIA flights. It’s tragic that to cover the 40-minute air distance between Delhi and Lahore, one needs to fly via Dubai and spend five-and-half hours. There can be strict security arrangements if need be but no excuse is good enough for not allowing A-I over Pak skies.

Soon after Kargil, when both countries amassed troops at the borders, Sushma Swaraj attended the SAARC meet for Information and Broadcasting ministers and PTV interviewed her. Even at the height of tension, K.C. Pant, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission, visited Pakistan. Now that things are not at such flashpoint, it is inexplicable why nobody bothered to attend the Telecom Ministers’ meet in Pakistan.

Somewhere we must make a beginning. As a welcome gesture, Islamabad can start by allowing Indian artistes to perform in Pakistan. After all, scores of Pakistani artistes make big bucks in India. New Delhi can surely get the regulation visa processing done and set things in motion.

Not along religious lines

We all know Javed Akhtar not only as a superb lyricist but also as an impeccable secularist. So, when he strikes at the Islamic fundamentalists, it is but natural for people sit up and take notice.

Addressing a conference on the war in Iraq recently, the thought-provoking poet dwelt at length on the irony of no Islamic nation supporting Saddam Hussein. It is significant that the military ruler of Iraq has described the current war against the American, British and other allied forces as ‘‘jehad’’ and called for the support of Islamic nations. Still, there are no takers from the Islamic world.

Akhtar rightly pointed out that whoever has condemned the US-led Allied forces are from outside the Islamic fold, including France and Germany. Contrast this with the military and other support being given to America by Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and other nations who are mainly Islamic. So much for the specious argument that religion unites peoples and nations.