SRK asks Middle Class to speak up on 'misuse of religion'
29th Apr 2004
12.38 IST
By ApunKaChoice Bureau
Matinee idol Shah Rukh Khan feels the educated middle class in India, which is growing at a very fast pace, has to take a stand against the 'communalism and misuse of religion for very small benefits, very small unimportant agendas' which he felt was 'in the hands of a few people who misuse it for their agendas'.
The actor, who emerged as the top star of last year by giving more than two hits, is clearly a person who does not mince his words on any subject - whether it relates to cinema or issues affecting the nation. As part of his interview to BBC Asia Today's series on Modern Indian Maharajas, he spoke on a variety of subjects, including cinema, secularism, communal disharmony, and the economy.
King Khan says he will never join politics as he does not understand it, said it was necessary that 'for India to be progressing faster, what it needs is to control any kind of communal disharmony' and 'the only thing which can stop India from being the greatest superpower is communalism and misuse of religion'.
In reply to another question, he said 'I am a walking talking secular example. I am an Islamic hero, my wife is Hindu, my children, I always say this openly, they will learn both the religions, there is no difference at all. I would like to teach them Christianity too'.
He added: ''I am very clear in my films, when I play a Hindu or a Muslim character, I say comments, say things. My new film, Main Hoon Na , is about India and Pakistan becoming friends. I think Indians by nature right now are very secular, have been very secular and the biggest case in point is that a Muslim guy is one of the top stars for the last thirteen years, they have accepted me, nobody has ever questioned this.''
SRK said communal disharmony will only take the country backward, ''its very sad for people who get affected, who get disturbed, whose lives are finished because of reasons like this. We should take a stand and we should talk against it, even if we don't talk against it, we should feel completely against it. I think that most important, that's my role in this country for that aspect''.
Matinee idol 