“Humesha Bollywood Ke Peeche Pade Rehte Hai”: Suniel Shetty Defends Aamir Khan Amid ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ Boycott Calls
Suniel Shetty defended Aamir Khan amid boycott calls for ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’, saying Bollywood is always unfairly targeted.
Aamir Khan is gearing up for his big-screen comeback with ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’, following the underwhelming performance of his 2022 film ‘Laal Singh Chaddha’. But even before the film hits theatres, it has found itself in the middle of controversy — this time over the timing of Aamir’s statement on Operation Sindoor and a resurfaced photo from years ago. In a recent interview with ABP, actor Suniel Shetty came forward to defend Aamir amid growing calls for a boycott.
Addressing the ongoing criticism, Suniel Shetty highlighted how Bollywood often becomes an easy target, especially when it comes to socio-political matters.
When asked whether Bollywood actors should speak out on socio-political issues, Suniel said, “Humesha Bollywood ke peeche pade rehte hai. Bollywood doesn't come forward in this. If it’s about the country, politicians will speak; if it's in the nation’s interest, we will definitely support it — that’s why we even make such films. We are trying to do our job. Speaking about my industry, I can say there are more India-centric individuals here than anywhere else in the world.”
The backlash against Aamir Khan began when his congratulatory message for the heroes of Operation Sindoor came out on the heels of the trailer launch of ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’. Many criticised the timing, accusing him of using patriotism as a promotional tool. Adding fuel to the fire, an old 2017 photograph of Aamir shaking hands with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a visit to Turkey also began doing the rounds online — triggering renewed anger.
But Suniel Shetty urged people to look beyond the past. Reacting to the boycott calls, Suniel said, “People should forget the past. The past does not represent today’s time. Turkey’s situation then and now is very different. So, what we do going forward should be our own decision, rather than judging based on the past. When you go to big social gatherings, you don’t always know who you’re posing for pictures with. In today’s time, if you don’t pose, you’re called ‘rude’, and if you do so unknowingly, you still become a target.”
Aamir’s upcoming film ‘Sitaare Zameen Par’ is a spiritual sequel to the much-loved ‘Taare Zameen Par’. This time, the story follows Aamir as a basketball coach who’s been assigned to train a team of neurodivergent kids as part of a court-mandated punishment. The film also stars Genelia D’Souza and introduces 10 debutant actors, and is adapted from the Spanish hit ‘Campeones’. It is slated to release in theatres on June 20.
Meanwhile, Suniel Shetty has his own slate of films keeping him busy. His latest release, ‘Kesari Veer’, hit cinemas today. Directed by Prince Dhiman, the film also stars Vivek Oberoi, Sooraj Pancholi, and Akanksha Sharma.
Up next, Suniel will be seen in ‘Welcome to the Jungle’, a star-packed comedy featuring Akshay Kumar, Paresh Rawal, Sanjay Dutt, Arshad Warsi, Disha Patani, Raveena Tandon, and Lara Dutta.
