<p>Superstar Aamir Khan is planning to work on his new project 'Mahabharata'.&nbsp;He has been vocal about his passion for reimagining the epic tale into a movie.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In an interview,&nbsp;he said, "My dream project is to make the 'Mahabharata''&nbsp;but I’m afraid of starting the project as I know it will consume at least 15-20 years of my life. My favorite character is Karna, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to play him due to my physique. I may just have to play Krishna. I also liked the character of Arjun. He was the only person who asked Krishna why he must kill his own people."</p>

<p>Soon after the announcement, users on Twitter started trolling the actor for taking up the role of&nbsp;Hindu God on screen.</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Why should <a href="https://twitter.com/aamirkhan?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@AamirKhan</a>, a Muslim, play in most ancient & sacred of Hindu epics, the Mahabharata? Is <a href="https://twitter.com/BJP4India?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BJP4India</a> Govt of <a href="https://twitter.com/narendramodi?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@narendramodi</a> going to be like the <a href="https://twitter.com/INCIndia?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@INCIndia</a> & just stand by in name of secularism??? Would Muslims allow a Hindu to play life of Mohamed?<a href="https://t.co/fC7bvbHkZE">https://t.co/fC7bvbHkZE</a></p>
— Francois Gautier (@fgautier26) <a href="https://twitter.com/fgautier26/status/976419997076545536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">21 March 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>Among many voices that came to his defence, Bollywood writer Javed Akhtar came to his rescue on Twitter. He tweeted:&nbsp;“Mr Francois Gautier, would you tell us what is your deal with the PR agencies Like 20 20 India and Adelman India. Are they paying you well to spread negativity against the most ambitious fin project of India “Mahabharata” planned by Mr Mukesh Ambani and Aamir Khan.”</p>

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en-gb">
<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Mr Francois Gautier , would you tell us what is your deal with the PR agencies Like 20 20 India and Adelman India . Are they paying you well to spread negativity against the most ambitious fin project of India “Mahabharta” planned by Mr Mukesh Ambani and Aamir khan</p>
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) <a href="https://twitter.com/Javedakhtarjadu/status/977436389108166659?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">24 March 2018</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

<p>If news reports to be believed,&nbsp;Aamir Khan's 'Mahabharata'&nbsp;would be one of the most expensive films in the industry and will be backed by none other than billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani.</p>

<p>On earlier occasions, movies like 'Padmaavat'&nbsp;and 'Sexy Durga' have also been mired by controversies for no reason.&nbsp;<br />
&nbsp;</p>


If the news is to be believed Aamir Khan would be playing a pivotal role in 'Mahabharata' which would be bankrolled by Mukesh Ambani

Superstar Aamir Khan is planning to work on his new project 'Mahabharata'. He has been vocal about his passion for reimagining the epic tale into a movie. In an interview, he said, "My dream project is to make the 'Mahabharata'' but I’m afraid of starting the project as I know it will consume at least 15-20 years of my life. My favorite character is Karna, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to play him due to my physique. I may just have to play Krishna. I also liked the character of Arjun. He was the only person who asked Krishna why he must kill his own people." Soon after the announcement, users on Twitter started trolling the actor for taking up the role of Hindu God on screen. Why should @AamirKhan, a Muslim, play in most ancient & sacred of Hindu epics, the Mahabharata? Is @BJP4India Govt of @narendramodi going to be like the @INCIndia & just stand by in name of secularism??? Would Muslims allow a Hindu to play life of Mohamed?https://t.co/fC7bvbHkZE — Francois Gautier (@fgautier26) 21 March 2018 × Among many voices that came to his defence, Bollywood writer Javed Akhtar came to his rescue on Twitter. He tweeted: “Mr Francois Gautier, would you tell us what is your deal with the PR agencies Like 20 20 India and Adelman India. Are they paying you well to spread negativity against the most ambitious fin project of India “Mahabharata” planned by Mr Mukesh Ambani and Aamir Khan.” Mr Francois Gautier , would you tell us what is your deal with the PR agencies Like 20 20 India and Adelman India . Are they paying you well to spread negativity against the most ambitious fin project of India “Mahabharta” planned by Mr Mukesh Ambani and Aamir khan — Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) 24 March 2018 × If news reports to be believed, Aamir Khan's 'Mahabharata' would be one of the most expensive films in the industry and will be backed by none other than billionaire industrialist Mukesh Ambani. On earlier occasions, movies like 'Padmaavat' and 'Sexy Durga' have also been mired by controversies for no reason.

Aamir Khan to play Hindu God's role in Mahabharata, trolled on Twitter

<p>Critically acclaimed Indian actress Shabana Azmi on Saturday said that the country is seeing episodes of hyper-nationalism and although the phenomenon was not novel, people need to be alarmed about it.</p>

<p>Shabana Azmi also said that understanding the difference between nationalism and patriotism was the need of the hour.</p>

<p>&quot;Patriotism concerns itself with the lives of the people in this geographical entity and also concerns with improving their lot. So you can continue to be very patriotic and still be critical about certain issues in the society. In no way, does it make you unpatriotic,&quot; Ms Azmi said.</p>

<p>&quot;But what we are seeing now (in the country) is hyper-nationalism. And that is something to be alarmed about. It has always existed. (And) Culture and arts are always attacked first because the country&#39;s image is defined by what they represent,&quot; the actress added.</p>

<p>The actress was addressing a panel discussion on &quot;Nationalism and Arts&quot; at the Times Litfest along with her husband and lyricist Javed Akhtar.</p>

<p>Shabana Azmi also expressed her support to &quot;Padmavati&quot;&nbsp;director Sanjay Leela and actress Deepika Padukone receiving death threats over the film.</p>

<p>She said, &quot;Criticism is fine. Dissent is fine...What is not fine is threats of death, killing people or burning them alive - as has been done with Deepika Padukone. As an actress, as a colleague, as a member of the industry, I don&#39;t think it has ever been as bad as it is today.&quot;</p>

<p>Javed Akhtar also addressed the matter saying &quot;It is not happening for the first time with &#39;Padmavati&#39;. But we must ask ourselves that did we earn the right to stand for &#39;Padmavati&#39;? When &quot;Fire&quot; was removed, when &quot;Kissa Kursi Ka&quot; prints were burnt...Did we stand up for all those films? How many people protested?&quot;</p>

<p>&quot;When you are protesting against &#39;Padmavati&#39;, did you also protest against the play that glorified Nathuram Godse? What I am saying is that all of us carry baggage. All of us are guilty of sometimes keeping quiet. We tend to speak only out of choice. That is not objectivity,&quot; Akhtar added.<br />
<br />
(<em>With inputs from PTI</em>)</p>


Critically acclaimed Indian actress Shabana Azmi today said that the country is seeing episodes of hyper-nationalism and although the phenomenon was not novel, people need to be alarmed about it

Critically acclaimed Indian actress Shabana Azmi on Saturday said that the country is seeing episodes of hyper-nationalism and although the phenomenon was not novel, people need to be alarmed about it. Shabana Azmi also said that understanding the difference between nationalism and patriotism was the need of the hour. "Patriotism concerns itself with the lives of the people in this geographical entity and also concerns with improving their lot. So you can continue to be very patriotic and still be critical about certain issues in the society. In no way, does it make you unpatriotic," Ms Azmi said. "But what we are seeing now (in the country) is hyper-nationalism. And that is something to be alarmed about. It has always existed. (And) Culture and arts are always attacked first because the country's image is defined by what they represent," the actress added. The actress was addressing a panel discussion on "Nationalism and Arts" at the Times Litfest along with her husband and lyricist Javed Akhtar. Shabana Azmi also expressed her support to "Padmavati" director Sanjay Leela and actress Deepika Padukone receiving death threats over the film. She said, "Criticism is fine. Dissent is fine...What is not fine is threats of death, killing people or burning them alive - as has been done with Deepika Padukone. As an actress, as a colleague, as a member of the industry, I don't think it has ever been as bad as it is today." Javed Akhtar also addressed the matter saying "It is not happening for the first time with 'Padmavati'. But we must ask ourselves that did we earn the right to stand for 'Padmavati'? When "Fire" was removed, when "Kissa Kursi Ka" prints were burnt...Did we stand up for all those films? How many people protested?" "When you are protesting against 'Padmavati', did you also protest against the play that glorified Nathuram Godse? What I am saying is that all of us carry baggage. All of us are guilty of sometimes keeping quiet. We tend to speak only out of choice. That is not objectivity," Akhtar added. (With inputs from PTI)

Country is witnessing hyper-nationalism, alarming: Shabana Azmi on 'Padmavati' row

javed-akhtar

Javed Akhtar, News on Javed Akhtar, stories on Javed Akhtar, articles on Javed Akhtar, Javed Akhtar stories at Wion, Javed Akhtar news, Javed Akhtar latest news

javed akhtar

Aamir Khan to play Hindu God's role in Mahabharata, trolled on Twitter

Country is witnessing hyper-nationalism, alarming: Shabana Azmi on 'Padmavati' row