Sallu bhai slips
Manpriya Singh
Ok, so Salman claims he is a virgin and the nation ignores. He compares himself to a raped woman? The nation uproars! There’s yet another school of thought—shouldn’t we rather bother about the unfortunate statistics of rape in the country than the unfortunate statement on rape by a celebrity?
Sometimes silly, plain insensitive or downright crude—there’s never a dull moment, courtesy the controversial statements coming from B-town. The latest happens to be from Bollywood’s heartthrob Salman Khan, who compares himself to a raped woman at the end of the gruelling shoot schedule for Sultan.
Boys’ locker room humour
He definitely made it in humour, but public platform is no place for a joke like this. Such humour is best left for boys’ locker room or a bachelor’s party. It is insensitive not so much by way of content as much by way of context. It is definitely insensitive and hurtful to the victims and women out there. Making such a statement in front of the media is like asking for trouble. — MC Sid
What was he thinking?
Satire is one thing, insensitivity quite another. What did he mean by saying that he felt like a raped woman at the end of the gruelling shoot schedule? Was it convey to the tiredness or the torture? Or was it convey the trauma? Either ways, it was wrong on his part because only a wronged woman knows how she feels. But there is always a controversy around a film’s promotional event? Is it a co-incidence or a well-thought-out provocation, only they can tell! — Sumit Taneja, KV co-coordinator, SPICMACAY
Right intent, wrong comparison
Salman has always been known as a man with the right intent, but has always definitely gone wrong with the choice of his words. Same case here. He just wanted to explain the excruciating pain he had to go through. But out of the whole world, giving the example of a rape victim is not the right choice. — Simran Oberoi, fashion photographer
Statement that caused the furore
“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 10 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.” Salman later admits the fallacy: “I shouldn’t have (said that).”
The reaction
The fans are disappointed, the twitter shocked and the National Commission for Women has demanded an apology from Salman Khan for his insensitive remark.
Father Salim Khan
“Undoubtedly what Salman said is wrong, the simile, example and the context. The intention was not wrong,” he tweeted.
No dearth of silliness, is there?
Ranbir Kapoor: After Barfi didn’t win an Oscar, Ranbir Kapoor said “It’s a loss for the Oscars that they didn’t choose Barfi.” For the uninitiated, Barfi is said to be a loosely adapted version of the cult film Amelie.
Sonam Kapoor: “You are not good looking; they think you are a good actor. You know what I mean.” Well, everybody is still figuring out what could that have ever meant Sonam!
Mallika Sherawat: “I feel that my life is the same as Obama’s. I do not come from a film family, nor do I have a godfather. I’m from Haryana, but I changed the rules of the industry with my work and so has Obama.” God save the world!
Alia Bhatt Who can forget how much was the poor girl ridiculed for blurting out the name of Prithviraj Chauhan on being questioned about the President of India. Thereafter, there’s never been a dull interview with the girl!
manpriya@tribunemail.com
