(Image source from: Shah Rukh Khan talks on intolerance in India on 50th birthday})

Actor Shah Rukh Khan has joined chorus against “growing intolerance” in India at a press conference in Mumbai and when asked if he would return awards like others, he showed that he is ready in a symbolic gesture.

SRK said, “religious intolerance and not being secular…is the worst kind of crime that you can do as a patriot”.

When asked about returning awards, he said, “No one can force me to do anything I don’t want to, but let me get a National Award, and then I will return it.” He said that he respect writers for their protests.

The actor, who turned fifty, said while talking to India Today TV that, “There is intolerance, there is extreme intolerance… there is, I think… there is growing intolerance.”

“It is stupid… It is stupid to be intolerant and this is our biggest issue, not just an issue… Religious intolerance and not being secular in this country is the worst kind of crime that you can do as a patriot,” he added.

“People put words into the air even before thinking and here is a secular country. Here’s a country perhaps for the last 10 years that is on the cusp of going beyond what we think.”

SRK said that he respects those who return awards, referring to film makers returning awards, but he doesn’t have to. He also admitted that as he is a celebrity, it was tough for him to take a stand on every issue.

- Sumana