Daily Times

NEW DELHI: Just before the release of his upcoming film, Salman Khan has found himself in a fresh row of controversies over a statement he made while giving interviews for the film ‘Sultan’. The 50-year-old actor has been in the news since last night for his ‘rape’ remark which he made while talking about the hard working schedule he had for his film.

In a conversation with media, when asked as to how difficult it was shooting for his role of a wrestler in the film, Salman said,

“While shooting, during those six hours, there’d be so much of lifting and thrusting on the ground involved. That was tough for me because if I was lifting, I’d have to lift the same 120-kilo guy 10 times for five different angles. And likewise, get thrown that many times on the ground. This act is not repeated that many times in the real fights in the ring. When I used to walk out of the ring, after the shoot, I used to feel like a raped woman. I couldn’t walk straight. I would eat and then, head right back to training. That couldn’t stop.”

As journalists start laughing, he says, “I don’t think I should have” and tried to explain that he found it hard to walk.

But many Twitter users criticised that regardless of his correction, he should never have made the comparison in the first place.

With the social media going mad over Salman Khan comparing himself to a ‘raped woman’, the women activists today demanded an apology from the Bollywood star and said that he should think before he speaks as the people look up to him for the so called good deeds he does onscreen.

“How can somebody make such a statement in such a casual manner as far as women dignity is concerned? I am appalled at the mentality of the star. He is a star. People look up to him for the so called good deeds he does onscreen,” former National Commission for Women (NCW) member Shamina Shafiq talked to the media.

“I think he should apologize. He should take back his statement. This is not expected from any public figure for that matter,” she said.

On the other hand, women activist Kavita Krishnan denied the need for an apology and called for introspection.

“After such an upsurge of remarks people tend to say, ‘Oh! I am very sorry because I didn’t mean to hurt anyone’. I think that kind of apology is fairly meaningless and there is no point in that,” Krishnan said.

That did not go down well with the masses and soon people started voicing their opinion on social media. Now Salman’s father has spoken on the issue by posting a tweet through his official account. Here’s what he tweeted: “Undoubtedly what Salman said is wrong, the simili, example and the context. The intention was not wrong. Nevertheless I apologise on behalf of his family his fans & his friends. Forgiveness is to pardon the unpardonable or it is no virtue at all. To err is human to forgive divine. Today on Intl yoga day lets not run our shops on this mistake.”

Khan has not yet made any statement either defending his original comment, or apologising.