BENGALURU: Bollywood star Salman Khan's comment that he felt like a raped woman' shooting for Sultan has sparked social media outrage, with two opposing hashtags, #InsensitiveSalman and #SalmanMisquoted trending.
"While shooting, during those six hours, there'd be so much of lifting and thrusting involved... That was tough... I'd have to lift the same 120-kilo guy 10 times for 10 different angles...get thrown that many times on the ground. (The) act is not repeated that many times in... real fights... After the shoot, I used to feel like a raped woman. I couldn't walk straight...(sic)," the actor who plays a wrestler had said at a press meet to promote the film.
In the interview, Salman also referred to women as a vice', saying he had quit two others " cigarettes and alcohol.
Reacting to his remarks, National Commission for Women (NCW) chief Lalitha Kumaramangalam sought a public apology and explanation from the actor.
"This (giving such a statement) is very irresponsible of Salman. The commission has taken suo moto cognisance and has sent him a letter, asking him what drove him to make such a statement as his comments reek of the patriarchal high headedness prevailing in our country. We are extremely offended," Kumaramangalam told ANI.
The letter, she has said, also states that if the commission is not satisfied with his answer, it will summon him.
"(Rape) is not equivalent to lifting 120 kg. I believe Salman's fans, especially women, should react negatively to this statement," she added.
Women's rights activists were also critical of the Bollywood star and said such remarks could encourage rape culture.
Sunitha Krishnan, Hyderabad-based social activist and rape survivor, describes the comment as disgusting'.
"Such statements promote rape culture. We should not merely condemn such statements but also the people (who make them). Someone with his looks, luck and status should be more responsible. I don't think he understands what he's talking about," she said.
Bengaluru-based college lecturer Renuka Balachandran observed that people are dismissing him as a fool. "But his comment is not foolish', it is misogynistic," she said.
Bengalurean comedian Praveen Kumar said the actor has gone from being Salman Bhai to Salman Bye'.
"I have lost the little respect I had for him after his comment," the stand-up artiste elaborated. "Tired after a day of shooting? Think of the black buck that couldn't walk properly after he shot it, or worse, the poor guy who went under his wheels."
Gowthaman Ranganathan, lawyer at Alternative Law Forum added, bitingly: "Appropriating his experience with rape...I don't think he will ever experience anything like it, though some of his victims might have."
Corporate employee Rajkumar Shandrasekaran said as a celebrity, he must be careful what he says, especially on sensitive topics.
Chinmayi S K, the techie behind developing the Bachao Android app for women safety, thinks though the comment is insensitive, given his history of insensitivity, people should not pay too much attention to it'.
Subhratim Das, senior business analyst at Vmware, and a fan of the superstar, admits that trying to draw an analogy to hard work and persistence to feeling like a raped woman is not right.
"Only a victim can understand the pain, distress, self-loathing and anger that she is going through," he said. "That said, let us keep in mind he realised his mistake and retracted the statement immediately."
Udne Ki Aasha
Cricket
0