After Bollywood actor Nawazuddin Siddiqui was reportedly pulled out of a Ram Leela show by men claiming to be Shiv Sena volunteers, actress Swara Bhaskar came out in his support on Tuesday.
Swara took to Twitter to express her disdain for the "pathetic mentality" which disallowed a talented artiste like Nawazuddin Siddiqui from participating in the Ramleela, and hoped that it gets eliminated from the society this Dasara.
This #Dussehra may v rise above the pathetic mentality that disallows a Muslim artist from participating in a #Ramleela performance. #nawaz
— Swara Bhaskar (@ReallySwara) October 11, 2016
This #Dussehra may we rise above the demon within us: the demon of hatred, stupidity, bigotry & blind superstition. Burn Proto-fascism
— Swara Bhaskar (@ReallySwara) October 11, 2016
Nawazuddin posted a clip of him doing some rehearsals for the show in his hometown Budhana in Uttar Pradesh, before he was barred from performing given that he is a Muslim.
My childhood dream could not come true, but will definitely be a part of Ramleela next year.
— Nawazuddin Siddiqui (@Nawazuddin_S) October 6, 2016
Check the rehearsals. pic.twitter.com/euOYSgsm3F
Men claiming to be Shiv Sena’s political party workers complained that a Muslim actor cannot be taking part in the Hindu play. Later however, the party chose to distance itself from the incident.
Yuva Sena Chief Aaditya Thackeray tweeted on Monday that the Shiv Sena did not "endorse the reason" for which Nawazuddin was barred from performing in the Ramleela.
The said person, be he an office bearer or not, hasn't voiced the Party's policy and the Party will not support such uncalled for actions
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) October 10, 2016
I spoke to @Nawazuddin_S ji to convey that the Party does not endorse the reason why he was prevented from acting in Ramleela in UP.
— Aaditya Thackeray (@AUThackeray) October 10, 2016
(IANS inputs)