Bollywood expresses concern over women's safety, human rights on Independence Day

As India celebrates her 72nd Independence Day, film personalities such as Kamal Haasan, Shabana Azmi and John Abraham, have expressed concern over the state of affairs in the country on the issues of women's safety and human rights violation.

Actor-politician Kamal Haasan said the people today need to "stop celebrating numbers" and start rebuilding the nation.

"... This is 70 years of slow progress. Celebrations we will do when we achieve the targets. Political parties celebrate everything because they want to sell tickets.

"If we have not done that then what independence we are talking about? It is first year of independence that is what I am celebrating and mourning," Haasan told PTI.

Abraham is happy with the economic growth of the country but is saddened about the safety and security of women and animals in the country.

"As a democracy, we are magical and doing things which are fantastic and in terms of leadership, we are trying to clean up the system.

"The negative, I feel, is we have nurtured fringe elements from both sides, if you look at the communal space, that doesn't go well for the country. But the biggest negative is that this country isn't safe for women and animals. When you go out and someone asks, 'Hey is your country rape capital of the world?', it hurts."
Swara wrote, "Happy birthday #India! Good, brave people full of empathy & love & an inclusive vision fought long and hard for you to be free... Let's hope your bickering children remember that."
Ranveer wrote on Twitter, "Our young nation is the very future of the world! #HappyIndependenceDay."
Deepika Padukone wrote in Devnagri: "Here's wishing all Indians a happy Independence Day."