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World Autism Awareness Day: From Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan to Priyanka Chopra, actors who played autistic characters
On World Autism Awareness Day, we listed down actors who played autistic characters in their films
The world observes World Autism Awareness Day on April 2. This is the ninth year since it was declared in 2008 by United Nations.
To throw light on this day, the city of Mumbai along with other major parts of the world have decided to turn blue to increase awareness about autism. Even ace filmmaker Karan Johar tweeted about it saying, "Today is #WorldAutismAwarenessDay ...thank you guys for all the great work you do for this cause...all my love...always..."
Today on this day let's take a look at three major films which showed us that autistic people are no less than geniuses and deserve all the love and support like anybody else in the world.
Check out:
Shah Rukh Khan in My Name is Khan
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This movie showed Shah Rukh Khan in a never-seen-before avatar. He played the role of a man named Rizvan Khan who suffers from Asperger's syndrome. But that was not at all his drawback. He was gifted with an ability to repair almost anything. He falls in love with a Hindu girl played by Kajol despite his brother going against him as he believed that there are only two types of people in this world - good and bad. When his son passes away, Kajol disowns him because she feels that her son was killed as his surname was Khan. To prove to the world that despite his surname 'Khan', he is not a terrorist. And the journey by an autistic man who becomes a national hero in the US is commendable.
SRK went on to win the Best Actor Award at the 2011 Filmfare Awards along with director Karan Johar winning Best Director and Kajol Best Actor (Female).
Priyanka Chopra in Barfi!
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Priyanka Chopra played an adorable autistic girl named Jhilmil in the film. Her interesting journey with Barfi played by Ranbir Kapoor, who is deaf and mute makes the whole premise of the film. In this Anurag Basu's directorial, Priyanka shed her glamorous avatar and impressed everyone with her short curly hair and wore a frock throughout the film. She is not loved by her parents and sibling because of her autistic nature. She receives unconditional love from her grandfather and the caretakers with whom she lived for a very long time. Her portrayal of Jhilmil made the audience sympathise towards her.
She falls for Barfi and her jealousy is evident when he talks to Ileana D'Cruz, Ranbir's former love in the film. But Barfi's eternal love is Jhilmil and they do get married and live together until their last breath.
Aamir Khan in Dhoom 3
The shocking revelation of Dhoom 3 was twin Aamir Khan - Samar and Sahir. Samar is autistic and it was heart warming to see Aamir in this unusual avatar. Samar is the smartest of the two brothers and has a major hand in the execution of the robbery. He is supported and cared by his brother Sahir. But still, he feels he deserves freedom and his own identity which he only gets on Sundays.
Sahir decides to sacrifice his life so that Samar can live a happy life with his love played by Katrina Kaif. Samar doesn't leave his brother's hand and they both end their life together.
These movies showed us various types of autistic characters, who are intelligent, genius and have all the human emotions that should be imbibed within.
Indian Idol 16
Mahadev And Sons
Anupamaa
14