Rawal, Kher and handful of others hail Art 370 move, rest of Bollywood silent

Bollywood was mostly silent on the Centre's decision to abolish Article 370, which gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir, with a handful of industry insiders coming out in support of the move but big stars maintaining their distance.

The move was hailed by known government backers such as actors Anupam Kher and Paresh Rawal with others like Gul Panag and Vikrant Massey also joining them in congratulating the Centre for the move while director Anubhav Sinha was measured in his response.

There were no tweets from the Bachchans, the three Khans -- Aamir, Shah Rukh, Salman -- or Akshay Kumar, who has emerged as something of a poster boy for socio-political movies, including "Toilet: Ek Prem Khatha" and "Mission Mangal".

Home Minister Amit Shah moved the resolution on Article 370 and a separate bill to bifurcate the state into two separate union territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh.

Reacting to the news, Rawal, a former BJP MP, said the country had become one in its truest sense today.

"Today is the true and complete independence of our motherland. Today in the true sense of the word INDIA becomes ONE! Jai Hind," the actor wrote on Twitter.

Panag hailed the decision as "an incredibly bold move".

"I do hope that the lives of the average Kashmiri will change for the better in the future. And also, for now, that their connectivity is restored so we can hear what they have to say too. #370Abolished," she added.

Kher, who was in New York, said he had woken up to the best news of his life. That the announcement took place on the day of the release of his autobiography was a gift, he added.

On Sunday, he had posted a cryptic tweet, saying, "Kashmir Solution has begun."
Mirza wished for the "peace, prosperity and sustainable development for the people of #Ladakh and #JammuAndKashmir."