After Chetan Bhagat got trolled on Twitter for making statements about returning national award if he had one, the next one to join the list is director Zoya Akhtar. Though the director is not on Twitter herself, her comments have gained quite a bit of traction.
Addressing the media at the MAMI Film Festival on Thursday, Director Zoya Akhtar said, "If I had the national award, I would have returned it. It is a peaceful way of saying things, expressing things. I support them.”
She added, “It is an important statement that people are making about the situation. It is a brave act for artists to do.”
After these comments, there came a wave of tweet reactions.
Bhakts since you were jobless yesterday here is your new target Zoya Akhtar. Start acting like you hate her movies, attack her father etc.
— Hypocrisy Watch (@bigotry_watch) November 6, 2015 Some people are now wishing they win an Award, so they can return it. Forget Intolerance, they totally deserve an Award for this stupidity.
— ChopdaSaab (@Keisar_) November 6, 2015 If Zoya Akhtar had won a National Award, Dibakar Banerjee would have returned it on her behalf
— IndiaSpeaks (@IndiaSpeaksPR) November 6, 2015 I don't know about Zoya Akhtar's urge to return the award, but she should most definitely return my 250 bucks for Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara.
— ChopdaSaab (@Keisar_) November 6, 2015