Shah Rukh, Salman Khan keep mum, as Bollywood condemns Delhi riots

Fans across social media platforms are questioning, when will those revered Bollywood superstars like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar and Ranveer Singh — who play indestructible heroes with heightened moral radar on the big screen — grow a spine and speak up on issues that are tearing the social fabric of India?

As anti-CAA protests and violent protests rock Delhi claiming 27 lives and injuring many more, influential matinee idols maintain a stoic silence. But the ones who have spoken out for years continue to make their opinions known on their social media accounts.

When Gulf News tabloid met Akshay Kumar on the sets of ‘Laxxmmi Bomb’ in Dubai last month, he refused to be drawn into a debate about India’s precarious political landscape but condemned the violence and destruction of property wholeheartedly. He made a plea to all his fans that violence is never the answer to any problem.

A few other stars were more vocal than the politically-correct and diplomatic Kumar. In January 2020, Deepika Padukone — one of Bollywood’s highest paid stars — made a surprise appearance at a silent protest at Delhi’s Jawaharlal Nehru University displaying her solidarity with the student who were allegedly attacked by right-wing political groups.

Her movie ‘Chhappak’ was due to release and her fierce stand propelled many to boycott her new film, which she also produced. So the stakes and collateral damage are often high when a big star speaks up.

Having said that, there’s a handful of actors who continue to speak up without a care for the damage it could possibly bring to their carefully-orchestrated brand image. Actors including Sonam Kapoor, Richa Chadha, lyricist Javed Akhtar and director Anurag Kashyap continue to speak up loud against the senseless blood shed on the Indian streets highlighting police brutality. They all took to their social media accounts to condemn the controversial Citizenship Amendment Act, that’s perceived to be discriminatory towards Muslims. Here are some of the Bollywood stars who took to their Twitter handles to condemn the violence in Delhi…

Swara Bhasker: “This is an urgent appeal! #AamAadmiParty #AamAadmiParty DO MORE than tweet!!!!”

Sonam K Ahuja: “Horrendous. Praying very hard,” as she posted a picture of a mob violence that claimed 70 lives, including 20 babies, when a bus was torched near Delhi.

Javed Akhtar: “The level of violence is being increased in Delhi. All the Kapil Mishras are being unleashed. An atmosphere is being created to convince an average Delhiite that it is all because of the anti CAA protest and in a few days the Delhi Police will go for “ the final solution.”

Vishal Dadlani: “Anti-CAA protesters have been protesting for 2 months. There was no violence until each time the so-called “pro-CAA” groups showed up. Think.”

Gauahuar Khan: “Where is this hate coming from ??? a scull cap, a bearded man, either bleeding or being branded a terrorist, but I ask, who r then these ppl with the sticks???? No beard, No scull cap yet attackers, terrorising a non threatening man, making him bleed!,”

Esha Gupta: “Syria? Delhi? Just violent people doing violent acts without even half the knowledge about what they stand for, making my city, my home unsafe. #Delhiburning”

Onir: “How low can @DelhiPolice stoop?” (along with a video of a policeman vandalising the CCTV cameras on the streets of Delhi)

Ritesh Sidhwani: “We need to find the ‘dil’ [heart] of ‘Dilli’ again, together — After all everyone’s heart beats alike for our country. #India #Delhiriots2020

Richa Chadha: “You got blood on your hands...you know who you are. As a true Hindu, I believe in karma. And it won’t wait till your next birth, it will manifest soon...as disease, penury, pain...you’d have earned this, like you’re earning extra money right now, celebrating the murder of others.”