National Award-winning actor Rajkummar Rao says he respects the decision of filmmakers returning their National Awards, calling it a “courageous” move. Earlier this week, ten filmmakers, including Dibakar Banerjee and Hunterr director Harshvardhan Kulkarni, returned their National Awards over “growing intolerance” and in support for FTII students. Rajkummar, who bagged a National Award for Shahid, made his debut with Dibakar’s Love Sex Aur Dhoka.
Being from FTII, I can absolutely understand what the students are going through. It’s very courageous of the people who are returning their National Awards. It’s a way of protest, I respect their decision.
Rajkummar Rao
He was speaking on the sidelines of the premiere of his real-life inspired drama Aligarh at the 17th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival. The Hansal Mehta-directed film also stars Manoj Bajpai and is based on the real-life incident of professor Shrinivas Ramchandra Siras, who was fired from his job because of his sexual orientation.
When asked if the film might run into trouble with the government given its bold theme, the 31-year-old Queen actor said, “Government? The movie has been made for the nation and the audience. They are ready to watch all kinds of cinema today. There’s nothing controversial in the film. These things are happening around us.”
On the other hand, artists like Mumbai-born music maestro Zubin Mehta said he failed to understand why artists, writers, filmmakers and other intellectuals were returning their state awards, while suggesting that those protesting against the government should engage in dialogue with it.
I think both parties should meet together and talk about their grievances. I don’t live here and I have not been through this entire process day by day. I read about it about for last five or six days in the paper. I wish I could talk to one of them for them to explain it to me, because it is a major movement which is going on right now.
Zubin Mehta
Veteran actor Anupam Kher recently slammed the directors, who returned their National Awards in solidarity with the protesting FTII students, calling it a move motivated by an “agenda”.
Eminent filmmaker Shyam Benegal also shared a similar view.
(With PTI inputs.)
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