Aamir Khan Clears the Air About PK Controversy
Bollywood actor Aamir Khan recently spoke about the long-standing controversy around his 2014 film PK. In a new interview with India TV, he strongly denied the claims that the film was anti-religious or promoted “love jihad”.
Film Is Not Against Religion
When asked if PK is anti-religious, Aamir said, “They are wrong. We are not against any religion. We respect all religions and religious people.”
He explained that the film’s only message was to warn people about those who use religion to cheat others and earn money. “Such people are found in every religion. That was the only point of the film,” he said.
The “Love Jihad” Controversy
The film also received criticism for its love story. It showed a Hindu girl, played by Anushka Sharma, falling in love with a Pakistani Muslim man, played by Sushant Singh Rajput. Some people said it was promoting “love jihad”.
“Love Jihad” is a political and sensitive term used by some people in India. It refers to an alleged idea that Muslim men try to marry Hindu women just to convert them to Islam. Also read: BBC Faces Backlash Over Sidhu Moose Wala Documentary.
“Love Is Above Religion,” Says Aamir
Aamir Khan said this idea is not true in every case. “When a Hindu and Muslim fall in love and get married, it is not always love jihad. It is just love and humanity. It is above religion,” he explained.
He also asked if people would call his own family marriages “love jihad”.
Aamir’s Family and Interfaith Marriages
Aamir Khan’s sisters, Farhat and Nikhat, are both married to Hindu men — Rajeev Dutta and Santosh Hegde. His daughter, Ira Khan, also recently married Nupur Shikhare, who is Hindu.
Aamir himself was married to two Hindu women — Reena Dutta and Kiran Rao.
Why His Children Have Muslim Names
Some people have also asked why Aamir’s children — Ira Khan, Junaid Khan and Azad Rao Khan — have Muslim names, even though their mothers were Hindu.
Aamir explained, “Their names were chosen by my wives. I did not interfere. Husbands don’t have much say in this matter,” he said jokingly.
He added that Ira’s name came from Maneka Gandhi’s book The Penguin Book of Hindu Names, and Azad was named after Maulana Azad, a great freedom fighter and the first Education Minister of India.
On the work side, Aamir Khan will next appear in the film Sitaare Zameen Par, opposite Genelia D’Souza. The movie is directed by RS Prasanna and is set to release on June 20.
Also read: Shanaya Kapoor and Vikrant Massey Set the Screen on Fire in Their First Look.