Trying to put to rest a huge row over his comment on "growing despondency", Bollywood actor-producer Aamir Khan said on Wednesday that he and his wife love India and have no intention of leaving the country.
Aamir said in a statement that while he stood by the interview, the avalanche of criticism directed at him and his wife Kiran Rao only proved what he had stated about the situation in the country.
"First, let me state categorically that neither I nor my wife Kiran have any intention of leaving the country. We never did, and nor would we like to in the future," he said in a statement.
"Anyone implying the opposite has either not seen my interview or is deliberately trying to distort what I have said.
"India is my country, I love it, I feel fortunate for being born here, and this is where I am staying," said the 50-year-old, one of the top earning stars of Hindi film industry.
"Secondly, I stand by everything that I have said in my interview.
"To all those people who are calling me anti-national, I would like to say that I am proud to be Indian, and I do not need anyone's permission or endorsement for that.
"To all the people shouting obscenities at me for speaking my heart out, it saddens me to say you are only proving my point.
"To all the people who have stood by me, thank you. We have to protect what this beautiful and unique country of ours really stands for. We have to protect its integrity, diversity, inclusiveness, its many languages, its culture, its history, its tolerance, it's concept of 'anekantavada', its love, sensitivity and its emotional strength."
The actor ended his statement by quoting Rabindranath Tagore's poem "Where the Mind is Without fear", calling it a prayer. He signed off with a "Jai Hind".
At an awards event in New Delhi on Monday, Aamir spoke of "growing despondency" that he said he had felt in India for the last six to eight months.
He had said: "When I sit at home and talk to Kiran, for the first time she said, 'Should we move out of India?' Now that's a very disastrous and a big comment to make to me."
The comment attracted widespread criticism even as many defended him.
Aamir's clarification came on a day when the Shiv Sena made another attack on the actor, calling him a "self-appointed mullah" who "poked fun at Hindu religious sentiments through his blockbuster movie 'PK'".
It said after making lots of money in India, Aamir "speaks nonsense in the name of freedom of speech... Actually such persons already enjoy too much freedom".
An editorial in the Sena mouthpiece "Saamna" said: "However, in India, Muslims enjoy complete freedom to practice their religion and all their demands are fulfiled by the governments - yet Aamir's wife finds this country 'intolerant'."
In a related development, online marketplace Snapdeal -- whose brand ambassador is Aamir -- distanced itself from the actor's comments, saying he made them in his personal capacity.
On Tuesday, the Hindu Sena staged a noisy protest outside Aamir's house at Bandra. His effigies were burnt and his posters were blackened.
SECURITY AROUND AAMIR KHAN IN PUNJAB BEEFED UP
With protesters and the media following him after his controversial remarks on leaving India, the security of Bollywood star Aamir Khan -- who is currently shooting for his upcoming film "Dangal" in the rural areas of Punjab's Ludhiana district -- has been beefed up by Punjab Police.
The actor avoided the media on Wednesday. He was seen leaving the hotel and arriving at the shooting site in an SUV, seated on the front seat.
Shiv Sena members tried to hold a protest near the 5-star hotel where the actor and his team have been staying for the past few weeks. The protesters burnt Aamir's posters and disrupted traffic.
Punjab Police has increased security around the actor's hotel and also the venue of his unit's shooting in Ludhiana district, 125 km from Chandigarh.
Aamir has been in the thick of a controversy over his remarks that his wife Kiran Rao had discussed moving out of India in view of growing intolerance.
He returned on Tuesday to resume his shooting for the movie based on a wrestler's life.
Ludhiana Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Rupinder Kaur said security around the actor, his hotel and shooting venue have been increased.
Aamir's film unit has deployed private security also around him at all times.
Shooting will continue in Ludhiana district for a few days more.
The actor had to leave for Mumbai over a week back after he collapsed on the film set and was advised rest by doctors.
PROUD OF AAMIR KHAN, SAYS KEJRIWAL
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday continued his support for Bollywood star Aamir Khan whose remarks on "growing despondency" triggered a controversy, saying he was proud of him.
"We are proud of u @aamir_khan," Kejriwal wrote on his Twitter handle on Wednesday along with a picture of the statement issued by the actor.
Earlier in the day, Khan came out with a statement, saying he is "proud to be an Indian".
Khan said: "First, let me state categorically that neither I nor my wife Kiran have any intention of leaving the country. We never did, and nor would we like to in the future."
"India is my country, I love it, I feel fortunate for being born here, and this is where I am staying," said the 50-year-old actor.
Khan at Ramnath Goenka Excellence in Journalism Awards function in Delhi on Monday said he was "alarmed" by a number of "incidences" and that his wife had even suggested "leaving" the country.
On Tuesday also, Kejriwal expressed his admiration for Khan for "speaking up" against "intolerance and insecurity" in the country, and had asked the Centre to take concrete steps to instil a sense of security among the people.
