Interview: I'm not interested in politics, says Amir Khan

PKAFFAIRS.COM
Pakistan Current Affairs

HOME

Talk Shows

Political Parties

Dramas

News

Funny Clips

SEARCH PKAFFAIRS

Interview: I'm not interested in politics, says Amir Khan

NEW DEHLI: He doesn’t want to enter politics and candidly admits he has no solutions to problems. Actor-filmmaker Aamir Khan, revelling in the “dream reaction” to his TV show Satyamev Jayate, says his purpose is served if his efforts make people introspect.
Each Sunday since May 6 had seen the 47-year-old bring Indian television audiences face-to-face with issues like female foeticide, dowry, child abuse, malpractices in medical profession and honour killing. An entertainer rarely does that, and Aamir is happy in his space.
“I am not interested in politics, so I won’t be joining politics. I feel what I am able to do from where I am, from the the stream that I am in, is much more. I can contribute much more (this way). So I am happy doing that,” Aamir told IANS in an exclusive interview.
He admits one TV show and one person’s efforts cannot bring about any change, but says “information and knowledge make you act differently”. And that, through Satyamev Jayate, is his effort.
Excerpts from the interview
Your show has received stupendous response from all quarters. Has the audience given it more love than you expected?
This is a very dream reaction that we are getting…right from Kashmir to Kanyakumari, people are watching it in the small towns, villages, big cities… People across all economic groups and across rural and urban areas are watching it. The way people are emotionally connected to it is great. The way it is moving them, touching them, and affecting them is very heartening.
You seem to have donned the role of a social reformer. Post Satyamev Jayate, do we see you take on a larger role at some point, perhaps join politics?
I am not interested in politics, so I won’t be joining politics. I feel what I am able to do from where I am, from the the stream that I am in, is much more. I can contribute much more (this way). So I am happy doing that.
Is there any follow-up mechanism to the social issues that you have been raising on the show?
We believe information and knowledge make you act differently. Giving a broad example, if you look at a film like Taare Zameen Par… When the film was released, majority of the country’s population had no idea that there was something like dyslexia, a learning disability. Thereafter, it started having an impact that has continued till today. So what we can do with this show is – 13 Taare Zameen Par.
We are trying to get the viewers to look inwards. We are not expecting you to join an andolan (revolution) on female foeticide, nor are we expecting you to barge in each house of your neighbourhood to check if they are doing it or not… what we are expecting is that you yourself should not do it, and if somebody is thinking of doing it, you should discourage them from doing it.
We are trying to show the way forward. And by that I don’t mean that we have a solution. So in answer to what the follow up is to this – I don’t know what it is.
What we are doing is basic, essential, fundamental and primary. And according to me, the follow-up or rather fallout of this will be very organic in itself.
Several individuals and NGOs work towards society’s betterment. But that hasn’t helped so far. What do you have to say?
We are not discovering a new issue, we are actually tackling issues that are well known. Our research is based on work done by experts and social activists over the last 20 to 30 years. So their work is remarkable and important. Now what do I bring to the table?
Their work is the foundation of our work, and I am using my goodwill, which I have earned over the last two-and-a-half-decades. I am trying to put it to good use and using television, a fantastically strong medium, to address issues on a mass scale.
You have let go of the aura around a celebrity to come closer to the country’s masses and their problems. How gratifying is the experience?
It’s been an amazing journey to come in contact with people from different parts of the country and from different cultures. I have had the good fortune of learning so much more about the country. It has got me closer to the people of our country. It is a huge learning experience for me to do this show.

Sports News
Today's top most sports news

Updated at: 19 June 2013

Thiago hat-trick sees Spain retain U-21 title

JERUSALEM, Israel: A hat-trick by inspirational captain Thiago Alcantara saw Spain easily retain their European Under-21 title in Jerusalem on Tuesday with a 4-2 win over Italy. Barcelona star Thiago, who was born in Italy where his Brazilian father Mazinho was playing for Lecce, doubled his total haul for the side with all his goals coming in the first-half. Isco added a fourth in the second-half while Italy’s goals came from Ciro Immobile and Liverpool’s Fabio Borini as they at least ...

	Rousseff vows to listen to Brazil’s angry protesters
	FIFA Confederations Cup 2013: Fixtures, start time and live streaming
	French footballers win right to challenge under-age prostitute charges
	We will be desperate to beat India in semis: Jayawardene
	Whatmore eyes World Cup after Pakistan flop
	De Villiers confident of Steyn's fitness for semis
	England, South Africa look to ride their luck
	Iran, South Korea, Australia reach 2014 World Cup

Entertainment News
Today's top most showbiz news

Updated at: 19 June 2013

Katy’s Madonna disaster

California, US: Katy Perry dyed her hair black after an attempt to bleach her locks like Madonna went wrong. The ‘Firework’ singer has been dying her hair black since she was 15 and Katy - who is naturally blonde - admitted she only turned to the darker hue after a bleaching disaster. Speaking in a video to promote her July Vogue cover, she said: ‘’I’ve been dying my hair black since I was 15. The whole reason I dye it is that I was 15 and I chopped it all off. I had it bleached blonde like ...

	Pattinson heading to Canada
	Motorhead, Black Sabbath top UK metal music awards
	Ben says three kids enough
	Miller feels ‘complete’ as mother
	Kim ‘excited’ with new baby
	Caprice for housewives’ show
	Rihanna signs up for love therapy
	Statham hopes new film shows softer side

Top News Stories
Today's top most news stories

U.S. to launch formal peace talks with Taliban this week

WASHINGTON: The Obama administration will start formal peace talks with the Taliban on Thursday in the Persian Gulf state of Qatar, the first direct political contact between them since early last year and the initial step in what the administration hopes will lead to a negotiated end to the ...

PM Nawaz Sharif to visit AJK today

MUZAFFARABAD: Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif will visit Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJK) for the first time after being elected PM and having taken over the charge of the office, Geo News reported. AJK PM secretariat said that Pakistan PM during his visit would review the Neelum Jhelum hydropower ...

4 Americans killed in attack on Bagram base

WASHINGTON: Four Americans were killed Tuesday in an attack on Bagram air base by insurgents in Afghanistan, a US defense official said. The deaths were caused by insurgent "indirect fire," either mortars or rockets, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity. The report of ...

Chaman: Kidnapped Surgeon Mubasshar Hassan returns home

CHAMAN: Surgeon Dr. Mubasshar Hassan Wednesday returned home safely when the kidnappers dropped him this morning in front of his house, Geo News reported. Family sources said that Dr. Mubasshar Hassan was kidnapped in front of his house on April 27 and the kidnappers had demanded a ransom of ...

Energy crisis: Electricity sharing a point of dispute, says AG

ISLAMABAD: The Attorney General of Pakistan, Munir A Malik informed the Supreme Court on Tuesday that different stakeholders related to electricity generation had failed to reach a consensus regarding equitable distribution of electricity. He had earlier met representatives of the ministry of water ...

SEARCH PKAFFAIRS

Privacy Policy: We use third-party advertising companies to serve ads when you visit our Website. These companies may use information (not including your name, address email address or telephone number) about your visits to this and other Web sites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services of interest to you. If you would like more information about this practice and to know your choices about not having this information used by these companies, click here.