Being Aamir

In a time when Bollywood is flooded with mindless caper,puppy romances,and blatant plagiarism ,there is one actor who has constantly sought to do something different each time he has adorned the movie screen. He goes by the name Aamir Khan. Most of his movies - QSQT,Baazi,Sarfarosh,DCH,Lagaan,and RDB,just to name a few - have been a literal treat to watch.He has constantly evolved as an actor,quite unlike some of the others, who though in their 40s, continue to dance around the trees with actresses half their ages. But it's not Aamir the actor,who this post is about.It is about Aamir the activist.
His a la RDB demonstration in front of the India gate had far reaching ramifications.He has acknowledged that he did not know that this demonstration would have such reactions.His plea for proper rehabilitation for those uprooted from their lands because of the construction of Sarovar dam on Narmada was construed as a war cry against the people of Gujarat. Aamir was the monster out to deprive the Gujaratis off their solution to water shortage . His words were completely mutilated. All he had asked for was proper compensation for those affected by the dam but he was labeled an enemy of the Gujarat state. He was called a non-conformist,a iconoclast,even his motive was questioned because of his religion. Somehow in the twisted minds of our politicians and news channels,Gujarat and Muslims are terminally linked. His latest movie "Fanna" was banned in Gujarat,the saffron party demanded an unconditional apology from him.Thankfully, Aamir stood his ground and did not render the apology. He knew he was against a very powerful adversary,yet he continued to stick to his beliefs.
This was the first instance when someone from the tinsel town had espoused a social cause. Our actors have great following, so much media reach that they can be very effective in making social changes or atleast making the government accountable. But most of them are sadly content with making their meager millions. And it's not just the actors. Unless the influential people become involved,we will continue to languish where we are. There are only two ways as Aamir said in RDB,"Either we try to get into the system and change it from within,or we let things the way they are and stop complaining".