After Bollywood Badshah made remarks on the religious intolerance in the country, several leaders and the common people targeted SRK for his remarks. Journalist Barkha Dutt wrote a moving letter to Shah Rukh Khan and expressed her support to him and said ‘the country didn’t deserve a person like you.‘ The moving letter was published in Hindustan Times today. Barkha Dutt said that this wasn’t the first time SRK had faced attack from the right-wing because of his views on religious intolerance.

“When we met five years ago in Mumbai you were angry. Because then too, like now, the lunatic hate brigade wanted to banish you to Pakistan. (Lucky them, I say.) You were being asked to say sorry for your view that Pakistanis should be allowed to play in the Indian Premier League (IPL). And you gustily refused. Your film My Name is Khan was just going to be released; the Shiv Sena had been attacking theatres screening it,” Barkha Dutt wrote in her letter.

Barkha Dutt praised SRK writing that you are one of the few “among the biggest and most glamorous stars”, who had guts to speak on religious intolerance related issues. Many stars don’t react on such issues thinking that it would spoil their stardom. Dutt also mentioned that she was criticized by the right-wing leaders for asking SRK questions related to intolerance. Shah Rukh had said that he supports the artists who had returned their awards and believes they are brave.

“I respect the people if they have a call that makes them feel that if the gesture is going to turn things around, I think it’s very brave, very honest, very clean. As far as I am concerned, I’ve never participated in something as huge and as meaningful, as they have. But if it calls for it yes, symbolically, yes, it is important if you feel cinema is suffering, then here’s my national award, stand by the people who take a stand.” he had said.

Barkha Dutt reacts for a reason that SRK has been viciously attacked by right-wing leaders, with some of them even ridiculously comparing him to terrorists, calling him anti-national and a ‘Pakistani agent‘. Controversial Hindutva leader Sadhvi Prachi had called Khan a “Pakistani agent”, and should be sent to that country. Thus, all these comments made Barkha Dutt to write this letter to SRK.