Aamir Khan's Snapdeal contract may not get renewed
Snapdeal has resolved to drop Bollywood star Aamir Khan as its brand ambassador. Snapdeal sources revealed that Khan's contract that would end in February 2016 will not get renewed as the advertisement budget is being cut down. Advertising and marketing officials however, think that the move was connected to Khan's comments on India being intolerant. The ad-world has called Snapdeal's move 'harsh'.
Speaking at the occasion of 8th Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards, actor Aamir Khan spoke about the growing intolerance in the country and how his wife had asked if they should 'move out of India'. He said this was because of the rising intolerance in the last 6-8 months in the country which had brought the disquiet in the country to the forefront.
Aamir Khan also spoke about the 'award wapasi' movement and said that it was upto the creative people to choose their mode of protest and if this was how they wanted it, it was correct. Khan further talked on the issue of terror. He said that the people who were killing in the name of Islam or Hinduism, there was nothing religious about them.
Before Aamir, actors like Kareena Kapoor, Kamal Hassan, Shah Rukh Khan and Anupam Kher have been the ones who have spoke about 'intolerance' and the 'award wapasi' movement in India.
Many notable actors slammed Aamir Khan for contemplating leaving the country. Anupam Kher highlighted that India had made Aamir what he was and "When did 'Incredible India' become 'Intolerant India' for you?" Paresh Rawal too asked Khan to not just leave but to stay and fight. Notably, Ram Gopal Verma too commented saying the Khans were the biggest stars proving the country was tolerant.
While Aamir faced backlash from all and sundry, music composer Vishal Dadlani and Director Sanjay Gupta backed his argument and agreed that intolerance was on a rise.
Rahul Gandhi came out in support of Aamir Khan and said "instead of branding all those who question the Govt & Modiji - as unpatriotic, anti-national or 'motivated', the Govt would do better to reach out to people to understand what's disturbing them." Even Arvind Kejriwal said that government should take steps "to instill sense of security amongst people" and not silence them.
Commenting on Aamir Khan's disclosure for considering a move out of India due to the rising intolerance, the government called the actor's comments ' alarmist'. Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said this was an attempt to tarnish India's image. Junior Home Minister Kiran Rijiju too joined the debate saying the number of communal deaths in India had come down since BJP came to power.
A.R. Rahman said that he agreed with Aamir Khan and had to bear the brunt of 'intolerance' in the country. He was referring to the fatwa against him for producing the music of the movie 'Muhammad: Messenger of God'. He said that his concerts were cancelled and he was asked to 're-convert' to Hinduism citing that it was time for his 'ghar wapasi'.
The Punjab branch of the Shiv Sena declared a reward of "Rs.1 lakh per slap" for anyone slapping the actor Aamir Khan over his recent comments on "intolerance" in India. The statement was made during the Sena's demonstration in Ludhiana outside hotel MBD Radisson Blu. During the protests, derogatory language was used against Aamir and his photographs were burnt.
Megastar Amitabh Bachchan is set to replace Aamir Khan as the new face of the 'Incredible India' campaign. The tourism ministry clarified that this decision didn't have anything to do with Aamir's recent controversy. Ministry said that it was Prasoon Joshi's agency that had hired him, "since the contract with the agency is no more, automatically the arrangement with the actor no longer exists".
Bollywood actor Aamir Khan, whose "leaving India," remarks linked to the "intolerance" argument had flared up a massive controversy, said he didn't mean that he wished to leave India. He said he was "born here and he will die here." The actor said he gets nostalgic when he leaves India for long. Aamir blamed parts of media for creating misunderstanding over his comments.
