#Throwback: Before Kannada Actor Arun Gowda, Preity Zinta Made a Man Exit the Movie Hall for Not Standing up During National Anthem in 2014
This won't be the first time an actor's involvement in removal of someone from the movie theatre has led to a Twitter debate. Back in October 2014, Preity had tweeted about 'throwing a guy out'.
Twitter is up in debate about playing the National Anthem in movie theaters. Once again. The debate has been on and off again since 2014. Currently, we are talking about it because Kannada actor Arun Gowda shared a video where he and his friends are heckling a family for not standing up during the National Anthem in a movie theatre. The actor and his friends went as far as asking the family if they were 'Pakistani terrorists'. This has left the social media users debating about whether Arun and his friends were correct in responding in the manner. But more importantly if the National Anthem should even be played before movies at all. Bengaluru: Kannada Actor Arun Gowda, His Friends Rebuke Moviegoers For Not Standing During National Anthem, Call Them 'Pakistani'.
This won't be the first time an actor's involvement in removal of someone from the movie theatre has led to a Twitter debate. Back in October 2014, Preity had tweeted about 'throwing a guy out'. She wrote, "#bangbang be4 Bang Bang! Had2 throw a guy out of the Theater as he refused 2stand up4 our National Anthem! Can u believe it. Now movie time." Bengaluru National Anthem Row: All You Need to Know About the Kannada Actor Arun Gowda Who Heckled the Family for Disrespecting the Anthem.
The tweet did not go down well with the Twitterati. And the debate that you see today on Twitter happened in 2014 as well. The backlash that the actress recieved was so much that she had to tweet a clarification. She wrote, "Maybe I am old world or Maybe its because my father fought 4 this country & now my brother does the same. I think its the least we can do." Preity Zinta, Vir Das To Feature in American TV Series 'Fresh Off The Boat', Might Land a Standalone Sitcom If It Goes Well.
Preity also deleted her original tweet. She also, further, clarified that it was not her but other audience members who made sure the man was ousted from the movie hall for not standing up during National Anthem.
In November 2016, the apex court had made it mandatory for all cinema halls to play the national anthem before the screening. The part of the mandate also included that audience members will have to stand up to show respect during the national anthem. The 2016-order was overturned by a two-judge bench headed by former Chief Justice Deepak Misra on January 5, 2018. The decision to play or not play the anthem was left up to respective movie halls. The practice has been discontinued only in a few parts of the country.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 29, 2019 07:25 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).