Noted lyricist Javed Akhtar on Wednesday lambasted columnist Francois Gautier, who raised an objection over reports of actor Aamir Khan playing a pivotal role in a movie on Hindu epic - the Mahabharata.
On Wednesday, the industry buzz claimed that Aamir will work on a mega-budget movie series based on the great Indian epic 'The Mahabharata' after completing 'Thugs of Hindostan'. It will be one of the most expensive films to be ever made. And it will be on the lines of Hollywood's 'The Lord of the Rings' or the 'Game of Thrones' in terms of the production value.
The project is estimated to be made at a whopping Rs 1,000 crore and will be co-produced by Mukesh Ambani. Previously, the actor has on several occasions, expressed his willingness making Mahabharata as his dream project. He even wished to play the character of Karna or Krishna.
However, Gautier though didn't take this report kindly as he questioned the decision of makers to cast a Muslim actor in the Hindu epic.
Why should @AamirKhan, a Muslim, play in most ancient & sacred of Hindu epics, the Mahabharata? Is @BJP4India Govt of @narendramodi going to be like the @INCIndia & just stand by in name of secularism??? Would Muslims allow a Hindu to play life of Mohamed?," he tweeted.
Check the post here:
Why should @AamirKhan, a Muslim, play in most ancient & sacred of Hindu epics, the Mahabharata? Is @BJP4India Govt of @narendramodi going to be like the @INCIndia & just stand by in name of secularism??? Would Muslims allow a Hindu to play life of Mohamed?https://t.co/fC7bvbHkZE
— Francois Gautier (@fgautier26) March 21, 2018
His tweet did not go down well with Akhtar and he ended up abusing the columnist on micro-blogging site. The lyricist asked him,”Which foreign agency is paying you to spread this kind of perverse and poisonous thoughts in our country.”
“You scoundrel, have you not seen Peter Brooks production of this great epic Mahabharata in France. I would like to know which foreign agency is paying you to spread this kind of perverse and poisonous thoughts in our country,” Javed Akhtar tweeted.
You scoundrel, have you not seen peter brooks production of this great epic Mahabharsta in France . I would like to know which foreign agency is paying you to spread this kind of perverse and poisonous thoughts in our country
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) March 21, 2018
@Javedakhtarjadu has no qualms going after Hindu gurus like @SriSri in most ruthless manner, but erupts in indignation when I say that @aamir_khan , a Muslim, should not play Lord Krishna in Mahabharata series. As usual it's 1 way traffic with Muslims, who misuse Hindu tolerance
— Francois Gautier (@fgautier26) March 23, 2018
You ignorant unfortunate imbecile, obviously you know nothing about our Indian traditions and culture . Do you know who were Ras khan bullay shah Waris shah, ,Baba Farid Nazeer Akbarabadi , Nizir Banarasi , Bismillah khan . You are just a frog in the stinking well of communalism
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) March 22, 2018
Pressed by another troll on the 'would Muslims allow a Hindu to play Mohammed' question, Javed Akhtar responded:
If know them they won’t allow even a Muslim . Have you decided to emulate them .
— Javed Akhtar (@Javedakhtarjadu) March 22, 2018
Javed Akhtar wasn't the only person to defend Aamir in the comments thread, something Francois Gautier complained about later and said that the Hindus disagreeing with him ought to be ashamed:
When I objected to @aamir_khan playing Lord Krishna in Mahabharata,I was trolled mostly by Hindus. Shame to a people, who lose pride in their spirituality & ready t abandon it to a religion who repeatedly massacred their temples, men, women and children. Shame on you Hindus !
— Francois Gautier (@fgautier26) March 22, 2018
How is supporting an Indian Muslim actor’s association with a private production of Mahabharata surrendering to Islam? Shame on you. Period.
— Rupa Subramanya (@rupasubramanya) March 22, 2018
Just to be clear, there are no confirmed details about Aamir's adaptation - we don't even know for certain that he is making a version of the Mahabharata. If he does, it might well be the third such. The first is an adaptation of Randamoozham, which chronicles the events of the Mahabharata from Bheem's perspective. Mohanlal has been finalised to play the lead role.
The second project has reportedly been proposed by Baahubali director SS Rajamouli. Last year, Aamir Khan had said that he would like to collaborate with Rajamouli if he adapted Mahabharata on the big screen. "I'm a huge fan of Rajamouli's work and if he ever plans to make Mahabharata, I'd love to play Krishna or Karna. I might actually go with Krishna," he told.
Incidentally, Rajamouli also announced his next project with Jr NTR and Ram Charan Teja in lead roles on Thursday. It's not the Mahabharata.
