Women activists question Salman's appalling mentality post "raped woman" remark

With the social media going berserk over Salman Khan comparing himself to a 'raped woman' in a recent interview, the women activists on Tuesday demanded an apology from the Bollywood star and said that he should think before he speaks as the people look up to him for the so called good deeds he does on screen.

"How can somebody make such a statement in such a casual manner as far as women dignity is concerned? I am appalled at the mentality of the star. He is a star. People look up to him for the so called good deeds he does on screen," former National Commission for Women (NCW) member Shamina Shafiq told the media.

"I think he should apologize. He should take back his statement. This is not expected from any public figure for that matter," she said.

Shafiq also questioned the actor's mindset.

"I know 'Being human', his NGO is doing some wonderful, incredible work but what is the use of such good work if the person who is behind the entire work is having such kind of a mentality about a woman's condition which goes through after a physical assault," she added.

However, women activist Kavita Krishnan denied the need for an apology and called for instrospection.

"After such an upsurge of remarks people tend to say, 'Oh! I am very sorry because I didn't mean to hurt anyone'. I think that kind of apology is fairly meaningless and there is no point in that," Krishnan told ANI.

She said it is important to remember that the actor has said this not because he is 'especially insensitive' as Salman Khan, the celebrity, but because the Indian culture in general is terribly insensitive and such rape jokes and rape analogies have become very common.

"We need to get away from the easy position of mocking and slamming Salman Khan and start questioning ourselves and the kind of insensitive jokes about domestic violence or rape or other forms of gendered violence," she added.

In a recent interview, the actor reportedly made a shocking statement that has landed him in a soup.

During his interaction with an entertainment website, Salman was asked about his experience of playing a wrestler in his upcoming film Sultan and he said that he felt like a "raped woman".

"I'd have to lift the same 120-kilo guy 10 times for 10 different angles. And likewise, get thrown that many times on the ground. This act is not repeated that many times in the real fights in the ring. When I used to walk out of the ring, after the shoot, I used to feel like a raped woman. I couldn't walk straight. I would eat and then, head right back to training. That couldn't stop," he said.