I need not prove my secular credentials: Shah Rukh

December 9, 2015

New Delhi, Dec 9: Shah Rukh Khan got embroiled in the "extreme intolerance" debate in the country after he expressed his views about the prevailing situation in the country, but the superstar says there is no need for him to prove his "secular" credentials.

skAsked about the debate, the Bollywood "Badshah" said in an interview to ETV channel: "I really don't know anything about this. I speak straight-forward, clear-cut and good things whenever I speak. And I feel I need not prove myself secular."

"The logic is that if we want to move forward, we should not keep such things in our mind like sex differentiation, whether the person is fair or dark, which religion the person belongs to, which region the person hails from or which caste the person belongs to."

Shah Rukh's comment on "extreme intolerance" in India last month landed him in a soup, with leading BJP MP Yogi Adityanath comparing him to Pakistani terrorist Hafiz Saeed, and another Hindutva proponent, Sadhvi Prachi, dubbing the actor a "Pakistani agent".

Superstar Aamir Khan had to face a similar problem after he shared that his wife had suggested they leave the country.

The controversy was revisited by VHP leader Sadhvi Prachi on Tuesday when she attacked Shah Rukh and Aamir saying they are "tarnishing" the image of India through their comments on intolerance.

Shah Rukh feels there is no end to such "things", and he has made a resolution -- to talk about acting and films only.

"I have decided, I will discuss serious topics on a platform where I would be invited to discuss on that. But that is very rare. In most of the cases, people don't invite me for discussion on serious topics. But it is not required to discuss on such topics during films and birthday.

"Because the platform is not correct. When I speak in such programmes, people take my half words and they are placed in a different context. So, I think it is better that actors on acting platform should talk about acting and films only," said SRK, who is awaiting the release of his film "Dilwale".

He added: "If someone tells me that he is more patriotic than me, then he is stupid. From which angle can someone justify himself to be more patriotic? There is no logic behind that. We suddenly start shouting that I am more patriotic than you. Actually, we all are patriotic."

The 50-year-old, also a producer now, started his journey in showbiz from the small screen and made a mark in Bollywood with films like "Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge", "Baazigar", "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham..." and "My Name Is Khan".

The actor asserts that he expressed his genuine feeling in the previous interview, which was tossed away as negative.

"I genuinely spoke that I will teach my children these things. Then someone asked me 'Do you think such things are there?' I replied, 'It's not there'.

"But it should not be there to move forward in life. I even told that some people will take it wrong and say that he is speaking like that... Who will be more thankful towards this nation than me," asked Shah Rukh, who is married to Gauri and has three children.

Talking about Narendra Modi's government, Shah Rukh heaped praise upon the prime minister, calling his governance "fantastic".

"I think the developmental clause of his governance is fantastic. I am all for modernness and development. And it will be fantastic if he takes it up and makes it for the whole country," he said.

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News Network
March 12,2020

Chennai, Mar 12: Superstar Rajinikanth on Thursday clarified that he never aspired to become the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and said his plans for politics include different heads for his prospective party and a possible government headed by it.

In his first official press conference since December 31, 2017, when he announced to take the political plunge, the veteran star also said he planned to appoint as CM, an educated youth who was compassionate and had self-respect.

With a two-leadership system for party and the government, the former would act as an "opposition" to highlight issues and would not even hesitate to "remove", apparently the head of the government, if it fails to perform, he said.

His prospective party would focus on including a substantial amount of youngsters in the age group of below 45 years while the rest would comprise retired judges and IAS and IPS officials among others.

"I myself would reach out to them and invite them," to join him, the 69-year-old actor said.

Contrary to expectations, he however, did not make a concrete statement on floating his party but called for an "uprising" by youth, after which he would make his formal political entry.

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News Network
February 21,2020

Los Angeles, Feb 21: Nepalese-Australian actor Dichen Lachman has joined the cast of the third film in the Jurassic World franchise.

Lachman, best known for Netflix series Altered Carbon and TNT show Animal Kingdom, is the latest addition to the Colin Trevorrow-directed picture, reported Deadline.

Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment project will see Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard reprise their roles. Mamoudou Athie and DeWanda Wise are also part of the cast.

The movie marks the return of original Jurassic Park stars Sam Neill, Laura Dern and Jeff Goldblum.

Trevorrow has co-written the script of the new film with Emily Carmichael. He will also executive produce the film with Steven Spielberg.

Jurassic World 3 hits theatres on June 11, 2021.

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News Network
May 14,2020

Mumbai, Mar 14: Animal Planet has announced a new documentary "The Zoo: COVID-19 And Animals", which seeks to explore the effects of coronavirus on animals.

The special will see Dave Salmoni, Animal Planet’s big cat expert, talking to a number of experts, from the World Health Organization to wildlife biologists, in order to find out how COVID-19 is affecting animals and what pet owners can do to safeguard them.

The issue came to forefront when a four-year-old Malayan tiger tested positive for COVID-19 at Bronx Zoo in New York.

The documentary will feature chief veterinarian of Bronx Zoo, who will give an update on the big cats and their treatment, and also Dr Peter Embarek from WHO's COVID-19 Task Force, who works particularly on all aspects of the virus related to animals.

In a statement, Salmoni said, "When news about Nadia the tiger came out the questions immediately began; what about my pets? How do I keep my animals and family safe? We’re going to answer these questions and more through this documentary."

"We're speaking to a wide range of experts from the World Health Organization, to wildlife biologists, to veterinarians. We are at war with this disease and so we get down to the nitty-gritty, and discuss practical questions about daily lives with our pets," he added.

Sai Abishek, Director – Content, Factual & Lifestyle Entertainment – South Asia, Discovery, said, "We have been the forefront of busting myths around novel coronavirus with international documentaries. With this latest film, we take a hard look at how animals are being treated during such a crisis and the safety measures that can be taken to keep both, the people and their pets healthy."

"The Zoo: COVID-19 And Animals" will premiere on May 17 on Animal Planet, Animal Planet HD and Discovery Plus app.

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