Bollywood superstar Kareena Kapoor today reacted to the growing trend of calling for a film boycott and cancellation of culture. “I don’t agree with that at all,” she said.
Speaking at an event in Kolkata, the actor said: “If this happens, how do we entertain, how do you have joy and happiness in your life, which I think everyone needs? Agar film nai hogi toh entertainment kaisa hoga (What is entertainment without films)?”
Her comments came amid calls for a boycott of Shah Rukh Khan’s next release Pathaan, based on a song from the film. The ‘Besharam Rong’ song is in controversy, features actor Deepika Padukone in an orange dress which, according to critics, resembles saffron, sacred to Hinduism.
The campaign against the movie followed a similar one for Aamir Khan’s “Lal Singh Chadda”, which also featured Kareena Kapoor in a pivotal role. A section of social media called for a boycott of the movie after a 2015 interview with Aamir Khan resurfaced in which he was heard saying that his then-wife Kiran Rao suggested moving countries because of “growing intolerance” in India.
Addressing to the boycott trend Kareena Kapoor said, “Actually they shouldn’t boycott this film, it’s such a beautiful film. And I want people to see me and Aamir (Khan) on screen. We have waited so long. So, please don’t boycott this film, because it’s like boycotting a good movie.”
The trend of boycotting Bollywood movies for petty reasons has increased in recent years. Last year, several big-ticket releases, such as Brahmastra and Raksha Bandhan, were affected by online boycott campaigns.