Government Knows How to Take a Joke: Smriti Irani at IFFI 2017

IFFI 2017 began amid controversies surrounding ‘Padmavati’, ‘S Durga’ and ‘Nude’.

Union minister Smriti Irani speaks at the 48th International Film Festival of India in Panaji.   

(Photo: PTI)

Union Minister Smriti Irani said on 20 November, Monday that the BJP government at the Centre is tolerant and it understands that a joke should be taken as a joke.

The Information and Broadcasting Minister was speaking at the inauguration of the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Panaji, Goa.

Her remarks came in response to a banter actor Rajkumar Rao threw at her at the event.

Rao, who was co-hosting the event with actor Radhika Apte, said it was a co-incidence that film director Majid Majidi was an "Irani", just like the Union minister was.

Hearing the remarks, the Union minister smiled.

Rajkumar Rao, this (incident) should be known to the rest of the country, that you poked fun only at a minister. And it showed as a government how tolerant we are.

Smriti Irani

Majidi's film Beyond the Clouds inaugurated the film festival. Starring Ishaan Khatter and Malavika Mohanan in lead roles, the film is based on life in Mumbai.

IFFI 2017 Begins in The Shadow of Padmavati, S Durga and Nude Controversy

IFFI 2017 opened amid much fanfare and in the presence of Bollywood's best such as Shah Rukh Khan, but with the controversy over Padmavati casting a shadow on the festivities.

IFFI was also in the news over the government's decision to drop two films – S Durga and Nude – from the final list of the Indian Panorama section, leading to the resignation of jury president Sujoy Ghosh and members Apurva Asrani and Gyan Correa.

But Padmavati, whose 1 December release has been deferred by the makers amid protests by Rajput fringe elements and political leaders, hijacked the red carpet.

(With inputs from PTI.)

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