It has frequently been written that the incestuous world of Mumbai films forgets its differences and presents a united front when one of their own is threatened. Remember Salman Khan’s numerous brushes with the law? Sanjay Dutt?
In a rare, and really welcome departure from the norm, here’s some heartening news. Reproduced in full.
Many say actor owns four flats in Juhu, one in Khandala
Four flats in Juhu, and a house in Khandala are what actor Shabana Azmi owns, if some of the prominent people from the film fraternity are to be believed.
Irked by the alleged irresponsible statement by Azmi, who claimed that she was denied a house in Mumbai, people from the film industry called a press meet at Club Millennium in Juhu on Wednesday.
“It’s the worst communal statement made by someone who has multiple houses. There are many societies who do not allow Hindus, but we respect their culture
and don’t condemn them.” said filmmaker Ashoke Pandit.In an interview to a private news channel on Sunday, Azmi had stated that despite India’s secularism, Muslims were still being victims of discrimination.
Producer-director Shashi Ranjan and music director Aadesh Srivastav said that it was unfair on Azmi’s part to make such polarised statements when the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is still critical.
“There are certain Parsi societies that do not allow non-Parsis. In Bandra, there are many societies that do not allow non-Christians. There are some who do not allow Hindus who eat non-vegetarian food. I do not condone this. But that doesn’t mean secularism and democracy of our country is in danger,” said Ranjan.
Ranjan said that it was irresponsible on part of the actress who got fame and recognition in this very society.
“We salute a stalwart like Feroze Khan who stood at the heart of an Islamic state like Pakistan and appreciated the fact that Indian Muslims are far happier than their Pakistani counterparts. Khan is no lesser Muslim than Shabana Azmi,” said Pandit.
What is Shabana’s response? DNA says,
Tags: Commentary, Indian Politics, Pseudo Secularism Hall of Shame, Society & CultureDespite repeated calls, Azmi was unavailable for comment.
Shabana and her husband, what-his-name-akhtar have the characteristics of a dysfunctional flip-flop device changing states as per external control.
How else could Shabana forget her own interview 2 years back where she goes gaga for the same “secularist democracy, India”?
>>>link: http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0603/S00180.htm
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CHARLIE ROSE: And we conclude from India with a conversation with actress and social activist Shabana Azmi. We met with her in Mumbai.
SHABANA AZMI, ACTOR: There is in India a feeling for the Muslim that in spite of all the anomalies, I have a stake and a space here. It`s possible for a poor Indian boy to think, my God, I can become like the president of India. I can become a film star like Shah Rukh Khan… Azim Premji…Irfan Pathan There is a space and a stake there. It works as a secular democracy, in spite of all the aberrations. It works.
To give the devil his due, I admire Shabana and Javed Akhtar’s body of work. They are brilliant in their respective fields.
However, they are totally confused about where they ought to stand vis-a-vis the Islamist positions. On the one hand, they take on the likes of Imam Bukhari and at the same time, they spew venom on Indian society accusing it of being anti-Islam.
As your rightly put it, the response of the Bollywood fraternity is heartening. I was totally put off by the closing of ranks in the cases of Salman Khan and Sanjay Dutt. Esp the Salman- Vivek Oberoi episode, when the perpetrator could have easily been exposed. Instead the victim was further victimised and the victimisation, from the reports that I keep reading, still continues with Salman putting an embargo on his friends/ girlfriends having anything to do with Vivek or his films
sandeep
Can you please give a good intellectual
Angana chatterjee
http://www.doccentre.net/Tod/Angana-Chatterjee-Report-Kandhamal.php
i do apologoze for my language, you can delete my comments, if you want your blog to be formal
Angana Seemingly a Bengali Communist chic’
who has all the love for the Kashmiri seperatists who have been murdering the Innocent Hindus since 1986,but does not want to shed a tear for the Hinmdus who have succembed to their Bombs enroute Amarnath Yatra.
In a Nation where the Hindu taxpayers Money finances the Haj Pilgrimage & the Slaaries of The Maulvies, there Hindu Has no right over the Forest Land for His own Pilgrimage.
Sham At the Communist Mindset.
As far as Shabana Is concerned No comments as
A BITCH WILL BE BITCH, SHE ONLY KNOWS HOW TO BARK
iI would love to give a name to Angana Chaterjee a Name
a Communist ….
Dear Mr.Editor
Ref:- Shabana’s inputs on 24.8.08.
My Dear Shabana,
Assalam Vale Kum,
I am a Brahmin.My parents came from Pakistan.My father was saved by a muslim
in Pakistan from sure death by bribing Pakistani authorities as he was known to my grandfather who created Gita Temples in Pakistan.
I would not have been born but for that unknown muslim in Pakistan.
My mother,while on deathbed was served by a muslim maid.
I am a great fan of yours.And of Shri Javed.You form a lovely couple creating
so much of joy.
But Reality is very harsh,Shabanaji.
Reality is also very Subjective.
You know,” While grinding wheat,small living beings also lose their life.This is the Tragedy of Life,in India,for Muslims and more so Hindus.Believe me I love muslims.I would not be there but for them.
Come to Panchkula and stay with us;any time,all the time.We will be obliged to have you with us.
Regards,
Manoj Bhardwaj
657/25,Panchkula,Haryana
Shabana ji,
it is unfrotunate that your statement of August 2008 has been twisted to say that you were questioning secular character of this democracy. In fact you were not.What you did say about difficulties a muslim faces in getting a house in Mumbai is a reality and we should have courage to face this unfortunate reality.Let our friends check out in up market areas of Mumbai such a practice exists so much so market price of a flat whcih has many muslims is at times quoted lower than similar flats. And thats an unfortunate relaity and discrimination. We are not talking about cases like Parsi colony not giving a hoisue to a non-Parsi as some of the friends have said in many of these write ups. A Parsi colony or a christian colony strictly entertaining memebers formt he same religions is also a part of secular character that we have chosen.
You also made a statement that entire Azamgarh must not be termed as a terrorist area.Let su rise above all this and can we for God’s sake start addressing the root cause of this problem- terrorism. The terrorism will cannot be eliminated no matter how stern steps Govt starts taking. The Govt and all of us will make this hue and cry for a while, dust will settle down and there will be yet another 13 September.The lesson form Punjab must be learnt. The terrorism got eliminated only when the sikh population of the interiror Punjab stood up and rejecetd the misguided youth.Why cant well placed people like you stand up and take up this challenge in building up simiular movement here.Millions of good muslims are suffereing discrimination and have been made to feel like “guilty’ for acts of few nonsensicxal muslims.Let a common muslim stand up and forget all other issue for the sake of common good and reject these few youth who are indulging in such senseles acts of terrorism.
There is no better place to start this than Azamgarh.please consider this and kick off this initiative form Azamgarh. this will be a gerat service to your country. And this inittative need not be confined to muslims alone; it will need to talke along all religions whoever desires to join and there will be millions who will come forward for this cause. javed Bhai is loved by thousands and thousands , let him contribute and scores of other well placed muslim citizens of this country who are not not affected by petty political considerations.
Best wishes,
Ajit Yadav
Mumbai
21 September 2008