Kareena Kapoor Khan plays a modern, savvy, bold and independent career woman in her next film. In real life, the actress is not known to voice her opinions much on prevalent socio-political scenario in India. Here, however, she opens up on the growing intolerance in India today, why she supports Aamir Khan's concerns and muses about what can be done to lessen those concerns.
Bebo admits that there is a sense of growing intolerance in India. She says, "There are too many voices spoiling everything today. Everybody has an opinion on every issue, everybody wants their voice to be heard... They either want to be involved in a controversy or even if they don't want to be involved, people will comment and drag them into one... There's just too much of a hue and cry over everything. People's opinions on Twitter are not going to change the mindset of the government and society. These are things political parties have to change first."
Recently Aamir Khan was hauled over coals for voicing his opinion on intolerance. Kareena agrees, "Everybody today gets fried for voicing their opinions. So, is it really important? I don't know. Contrary to what people think, I don't live in a bubble. Everybody makes fun of my space cadet behaviour, but I am extremely aware of what's going on around me. My morning newspapers are nothing to do with gossip at all, but in fact, I read up on the latest news happening in India and the world. Over the last two years, I wait to sit with my chai and read up on current affairs."
She adds, "I may not voice my opinion in public because I don't need to be vociferous to show how involved I am in current affairs or reading the newspapers. But if somebody asks me, of course, I will have an opinion. But I have not been asked and secondly, I am not on Twitter, so I don't get up in the morning and tweet my opinions."
Does she agree with what Aamir said? Bebo says firmly, "I don't think Aamir said anything wrong. He just addressed a fear. It was a conversation that he was talking to his wife about. I don't think he meant anything damaging by it. Of course, 500,000 opinions followed and as many clarifications were issued.There will always be anger and unrest as opinions are expressed. India is made up of highly emotional people."
Kareena has a double-pronged solution to the growing intolerance in the country. "The most important thing is literacy. People should be made aware, know what's happening. Also, when we vote, we should get more information about who we vote for " the parties and their candidates "even in the smallest of centres. That's important because, ultimately, that is the only vote, the constitutional right that we have and we can exercise that power by choosing the right party. This year, I definitely want to vote. We weren't here last year, but Saif and I are going to make it a point to do so, during the elections this year."
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