Bollywood star Sanjay Dutt has come under fire after he said that India is not at peace, provoking a furious backlash on social media. Now, the actor has cleared the air on his statement, saying that he was part of a script, and his conversation was light-hearted and humorous.
What did Sanjay Dutt say about peace in India?
In the past, during Shekhar Suman’s show Shekhar Tonight, Sanjay Dutt had also spoke about India and complimented its people for being warm, welcoming, and hospitable. He had also said that he could no longer experience that feeling of peace in the country. His remarks began circulating on the internet, and he was questioned on the meaning of his own statement. This debate was further exacerbated with some clips from the show being shared through social media.
Why did the comment become controversial?
Commenting on the occasion, the actor told NDTV on Friday that the remark was part of a special Gandhi Jayanti episode in which he interacted with the character with humour, satire and the iconic character of Munna Bhai. In a different segment, he portrayed himself as the PM for five minutes and spoke in a funny manner as Munna Bhai. A few of the remarks also referenced political leadership and the importance of keeping a closer link to the people. This prompted many to ask if Dutt was implying something politically significant or if he was simply delivering a scripted satirical segment.
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Sanjay Dutt says the conversation was scripted
Amid the controversy, Dutt clarified his comments on social media. He explained that his comments were a part of a planned conversation, which he thought was supposed to be a humorous joke. He also emphasized that he has never expressed any malice, insult or disrespect to any individual, community or organization.
The Munna Bhai and Gandhigiri connection
According to Dutt, the tone of the conversation was a lighter one, more in keeping with the humor and satire usually associated with his MG films, especially the concept of “Gandhigiri.” He associated the mention to concepts of love, comfort, union, and compassion, indicating that the message was not what netizens understood from the viral video.
A clarification changes the context
Sanjay Dutt led ‘no peace in India’ controversy. Also read: It’s not about the great Indian war, it is the war on great India (Original clip) In the original video, Sanjay Dutt’s remark drew criticism and sparked a debate. But after the actor’s explanation, he said that the comment was made within the context of a humorous script and is no insult to any person or group. The episode has reignited the debate about the disparity between a clip that goes viral and the context of a scripted entertainment show.
