JAIPUR– After filmmaker Karan Johar’s remark on growing intolerance in the country, actress Kajol on Saturday said there was “insensitivity” in India and that people were turning oversensitive on certain issues.
“I do believe that there is certain insensitivity in the country. We are turning oversensitive on certain issues,” the “Dilwale” star told reporters on the sidelines of the ongoing Jaipur Literature Festival.
“Words are being measured. We need to watch what we say in what context”.
“As public personalities, our duty is to speak well and intelligently,” added the mother of two.
Karan on Friday had said that India is a “tough country” to express one’s views with a legal sword always hanging over the neck.
In a freewheeling and frank session at the festival here, Karan spoke about homosexuality in films and society, as well as of the stigma attached to it.
Talking about it, he said: “What do I say… Revealing in today’s time can land you in jail. We are in a tough country to speak about your personal life and I feel really sad about it because being a public figure you are expected to helm a certain movement, talk about freedom of expression, which is the biggest joke in the world. Democracy is the second biggest joke I think.”
The director also opened up about his personal life, saying that he felt “effeminate as a child”.
He made the revelation while talking about his book “An Unsuitable Boy” at a session with Shobhaa De and his biographer Poonam Saxena.
“I really think how are we democratic, how is there freedom of expression? I’m a filmmaker and I’m bound by everything — be it what I put out on celluloid or what I say in print,” he said while adding that he feels that he will “always get some kind of legal notice” awaiting him.
“Everywhere I go I’m scared. I’m scared that I’m saying something in Jaipur and I don’t know who will file a case when I get home. So, I have become a FIR king with the things happening around me.”
The director, who has perfected the art of helming family entertainers with films like “Kuch Kuch Hota Hai”, “Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham…”, “My Name Is Khan” and “Student of the Year”, was perhaps referring to the infamous AIB Roast episode, for which an FIR was filed against Karan along with other celebrities who were involved in it.
Last year, the intolerance debate was joined by Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan and Anupam Kher among others.
Karan shared that there is a way out – clever use of language.
“We finally won the National Anthem case that was 14 years old. I no longer have to apologise for putting National Anthem in my film in an emotional and proud manner. It’s like that. We eventually have to say what we have to say so in a clever way. Language is a great thing”, he said.
