Filmmaker Kundan Shah of "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro" fame, who returned his National Award over "growing intolerance", said he was happy that Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan took a stand on the issue too.
Shah, an FTII alumnus, returned the honour which he received for his cult film "Jaane Bhi Do Yaaro", along with 23 other filmmakers here today.
The filmmaker worked with Shah Rukh in "Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa" and said he was happy the industry was taking a stand on the issue.
"Shah Rukh said what he felt like. And that is very good. Even others are coming out I think. That means the film industry is taking a stand. Glad that they have taken a stand, it is very good. People can voice their opinion, irrespective of whatever side they are on," Shah told PTI.
Shah Rukh had recently came out strongly against what he called "extreme intolerance" in the country, and said intolerance towards creativity and religion will hurt the country.
Following which the superstar came under attack from some sections in BJP.
The filmmaker says apart from Bollywood celebrities, renowned music conductor Zubin Mehta, Infosys co-founder Narayana Murthy and RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan coming out adds credibility to the movement.
"People bigger than the stars have also come out and spoken about the issue. Zubin Mehta, Raghuram Rajan, Narayana Murthy. It is important to have dialogue. At a time when we should move forward, where have we stuck? Why are we creating unnecessary bitterness among communities and not taking the nation where it should go," he said.
