Turning 50 today, Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan came out strongly against what he called "extreme intolerance" in the country, saying intolerance towards creativity and religion will hurt the country.
Adding his voice to growing protests and return of awards by filmakers, scientists, writers and historians over the 'climate of intolerance', the actor said while he had no National Film Award to return, he respects the decision of filmmakers like Dibakar Banerjee and Anand Patwardhan to give back their honour.
Shah Rukh, who became the biggest celebrity from Bollywood yet to rally behind the intelligentsia, was addressing a news conference here in connection with his 50th birthday today.
"If there is intolerance to creativity, intolerance through religion, we are taking away every step that the nation is taking forward," he said.
"I think creativity is very secure. It has no religion, caste or creed... Creative people shouldn't be told what religion the creativity belongs to," Shah Rukh said, adding, "When we start questioning the creativity we are doing diservice to the nation."
Banerjee's decision to return the National Award was criticised by his "Khosla Ka Ghosla" star Anupam Kher and director Madhur Bhandarkar but Shah Rukh said tolerance meant they were free to give diferring views.
"Symbolically when some of the people have done that they have not only been brave but it is also a great gesture. I think it's it's a right thing to do. I am symbolically with them," he said.
Shah Rukh earlier in the day said that he respects those who returned awards but he does not have to follow suit. Padma Shri is among the awards in Shah Rukh's kitty.
"Anupam Kher, Dibakar Banerjee, Madhur Bhandarkar they all have their views. Tolerance in our country means giving your point of view symbolically and it's fantastic. I hope this symbolism (of returning the award) should lead to something good," Shah Rukh said at the news conference.
"I am all for creativity. I don't have a national award so first give me one and then I'll talk about returning it," he joked.
Before the news conference, Shah Rukh had voiced his feelings on the issue of "growing intolerance".
"There is intolerance, there is extreme intolerance... there is I think... There is growing intolerance," he said.
"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.
Shah Rukh, who has a string of hits from "Baazigar" to "Chennai Express" over a career spanning 27 years, was flooded with birthday wishes from his friends and colleagues including Salman Khan and hailed as an "energetic and inspiring" actor.
