Shah Rukh Khan’s Old Clip From the ’90s Where He Talks on Press Freedom and ‘Anti-Nationals’ Is Going Viral for the Right Reasons – Watch Video

Shah Rukh Khan is one of the rare few Bollywood celebs who have a response to give, logical at that, about whatever topic that you may throw at him. His answers may not be politically correct, which has landed King Khan in a spot of bother on numerous occasions. A couple of years back, he stirred a hornet's nest when he talked about the rising intolerance in India (while referring to the mob-lynchings that's happening in the country). Though he didn't mention any political party as such, many in the right wing took offence and demanded a boycott of his movies. Shah Rukh Khan Thanks Karan Johar and Aditya Chopra for Fulfilling His Dreams.

Now an old clip is going viral in which Shah Rukh Khan has been seen talking about such issues right in the '90s. This clip, taken from a talk show hosted by actress Farida Jalal, has Shah Rukh Khan talk about his father, who he claims was one of the youngest freedom fighters of India.

The video has him describe how his father used to say that not to take the freedom he has for granted. Shah Rukh Khan had said, "At that time I used to really think that freedom he meant from foreign rule or something. But now I understand that having grown up, that this freedom that he was talking about was about poverty maybe, freedom from misery. Shah Rukh Khan's Youngest Son AbRam Had A Marvel Themed Birthday Party And Here Are All The Pics.

SRK then goes on to explain the importance of press freedom. He adds, "Just like we read in the papers that this is right and this is wrong, and we don't know as a common citizen how much truth is in that. The only knowledge I have is what I read in the papers. So freedom from this speculation of 'Is this right, is this wrong?' Having freedom of press, freedom of speech... (sic)"

He then elaborates on the idea of acceptance in the country as a whole. Shah Rukh Khan said, "I remember when where we were kids, we had to write this essay 'My Country, India'. I think that should be changed. I think it has to be that the country is India and we are the citizens of this country. We don't own it. Ownership doesn't mean that this is our India. It means what we have to do for the country. And in that regards, I think the people, we call them the 'anti-nationals' or you call them 'anti-socials', whatever grand name you want to give them. At the end of it all, these are people who do not think they are a part of India. And I feel very sad even more so because my family has fought for this country. (sic)"

He concludes, "So for me, it is even sadder that these people (who label others as 'anti-nationals) are somehow destroying it (freedom). Though I am not directly affiliated to politics or any kind of political party or am actively involved in it, whenever I read, it brings this little sadness that it takes away what my father told me, 'Keep this country free the way I gave it to you!'"

Watch the clip below:

It is quite ironical that Shah Rukh Khan is condemning the usage of 'anti-national' as a term, when he himself has been called the same by some of the right-wing supporters. This clip of this though, confirms that his views had nothing to do with a particular regime as such, but the general mentality of certain sections.

Here's how Twitterati reacted to this clip:

Tweet #1

Tweet #2

Tweet #3

Tweet #4

Tweet #5

Tweet #6

You may love his movies or not. But you just can't deny that Shah Rukh Khan has swag when it comes to talking on any damn thing, that too for decades!

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 03, 2019 03:32 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).