Bollywood is constantly criticised for its reluctance to speak up against the intolerance in the country. This is true especially when compared to its counterparts elsewhere in the world, but it was not always so.In 2011, in the dying days of the UPA government, Amitabh Bachchan had rued growing fascism because the release of his film Aarakshan was held up. Akshay Kumar had in 2012 tweeted about the petrol price hike, saying it was time to dust off old bicycles.Things changed when the Narendra Modi government took over. Bollywood denizens quickly found out that airing their views openly could have serious consequences – Aamir Khan, Shahrukh Khan, Anuraag Kashyap and many more. Others are now not getting any work offers simply for being a bit too candid in their anti-establishment views. Richa Chaddha was trolled incessantly when she tweeted about Chinese forces entering India. Akshay Kumar, the ultra patriot who was granted an exclusive interview with Modi, deleted the old tweets when petrol prices soared under the present government.The big stars of the Hindi film firmament soon realised it was better to remain silent and not say anything that could be remotely construed as critical of the government or the BJP. Words like freedom of expression, intolerance, price hike were out of bounds and fascism, of course, was simply not to be uttered.Now, two speeches, both made in Kolkata, are being celebrated. Amitabh Bachchan praised the city for its “its artistic temperament that embraces the essence of plurality and equality”.He went on to say, “But even now, I am sure my colleagues on the stage would agree, questions are being raised on civil liberties and freedom of expression,” and then mentioned “the current brand of historical couched in fictionalised jingoism along with moral policing…”Supporters of the present establishments will detect several red flags in these statements, more so since Bachchan is the brand ambassador of Gujarat and is legendary for not saying anything that upsets the powers that be.Shah Rukh Khan, whose film Pathaan is being heavily trolled for a ‘hot’ song with co-star Deepika Padukone, who wears orange/saffron coloured skimpy clothes, chose to concentrate on social media. “Social media is often driven by a certain narrowness of view that limits human nature to its baser self. I read somewhere that negativity increases social media consumption and thereby increases its commercial value. Such pursuits enclose the collective narrative, making it divisive and destructive.”Critics may carp that these are hardly great expressions of the values of free speech or upfront criticism of what is going on all around us, which is what is expected of public role models. Perhaps. But let’s take it. In an atmosphere of scared silence, even a peep of protest is welcome.But these are welcome more so because of the stature of the speakers. Both Bachchan and Khan are prominent stars whose words carry weight and heft. What they say matters, even if it is all said in a somewhat general way. And they say it knowing fully well that stepping out of line can be hazardous.Robert de Niro had called Donald Trump ‘worse than a gangster’ and said that the US was in a terrible situation – this while Trump was the president. No income tax raids followed. In India, such incendiary comparisons would be grounds for an FIR and perhaps even prison. That day of unbridled freedom of speech is of course away in India.Yet, let’s welcome these interventions, however modest they are, and hope that they inspire other celebrities – not just in Bollywood – to speak up, not necessarily to attack the government (including in their respective states), but to uphold the fundamental values of any decent democracy.
