Intolerance issue 'highly exaggerated', says Ram Gopal Varma

Director Ram Gopal Varma has apparently taken a dig at Bollywood actor Aamir Khan over his 'intolerant' remark, saying he feels the issue is being 'highly exaggerated'.

"There are far bigger incidents in India like Godhra riot and 26/11. If we compare with what is happening today in the rest of the world, then it is very small and a non-issue. I think India is the safest and most secular and most tolerant country.

In that kind of a situation, constantly to harp on intolerance is unnecessary, trying to create a divide, whether it is intended or not," Varma told ANI here.

"So many people are now returning awards and it is catching attention. I feel the whole point of intolerance is highly exaggerated and irresponsible," he added.

Varma had earlier in a series of tweets disapproved the comments made by Aamir and said that majority of the citizens are not intolerant if a predominantly Hindu country can make three Muslims as the three biggest superstars of our times, referring to the three Khans (Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan).

"If Aamir,Sharuk and Salman the three biggest stars of the Hindu country "India" are Muslims, I don't understand where intolerance is ?" tweeted Varma.

"In a predominantly Hindu country,if 3 Muslims can become the biggest iconic super stars that itself proves the majority aren't intolerant," he added.

He further said that isolated incidents cannot be taken as a sign of intolerance and the super stardom of the Muslims are proof enough of the vast majority's tolerance.

"Isolated incidents can't be taken as sign of intolerance and the super stardom of 3 Muslims is proof enough of the vast majority's tolerance," he said.

"It's the celebs need for creating drawing room debates to increase their popularity which flares up non-existent negativity btwn communities," he added.

Aamir, who was speaking at the eighth edition of the Ramnath Goenka excellence in journalism awards yesterday, said that a sense a sense of "insecurity" and "fear" had seeped deep within society.

He expressed "alarm" and despondency over the rise in such cases "in the last six to eight months".