These are difficult times for India’s religious minorities, more so for Muslims. One can say this because this fear has been expressed by those who have earned big names in that country, not the ordinary citizens.

After Shahrukh Khan’s statement that his patriotism has often been questioned in his own country, on Nov 24 another Bollywood star Aamir Khan’s concerns hit the headlines. His comments during an interview on the rising intolerance in India and his wife’s suggestion that they should leave the country have again whipped up a heated debate.

Actor Anupam Kher, who is at the forefront of defending the Modi government, tweeted that Aamir K shouldn’t have said that because India made him a known person. But SRK and Aamir K are not the only ones who share that feeling.

Recently, speaking at the Women in the World summit, veteran actress Shabana Azmi too pointed out that growing intolerance in India was a ‘worrying factor’. She was of the view that the extremist mindset did not belong to the fringe element anymore, rather it was coming from a thought which was mainstream.

Indeed madam, you are spot-on! But try telling that to your erstwhile colleague Anupam K.

Published in Dawn, Sunday Magazine, November 29th, 2015