The Salman Khan scene is blowing out of proportions. After he was appointed as goodwill ambassador for the Indian Olympic contingent headed for Rio this year, almost all of India, including social media and celebrities from all fields, weighed in on the situation.
Milkha Singh contested the Indian Olympics Associaton’s (IOA) decision on making Salman the ambassador.
Singh commented that the fact that no Indian sportsperson was appointed is what is wrong with the state of the sports industry. He added, “I want to make it clear that I am not against Salman Khan, but the decision of the IOA is wrong and the Government should intervene in the matter. This is for the first time I am seeing a Bollywood hero being made goodwill ambassador for Olympics.”
After Milkha Singh expressed his dismay, Salman’s father Salim Khan hit back with a couple of cutting tweets.
Milkhaji it is not Bollywood it is the Indian Film Industry and that too the largest in the world.
— Salim Khan (@luvsalimkhan) April 25, 2016
The same industry which resurrected you from fading away in oblivion
— Salim Khan (@luvsalimkhan) April 25, 2016
Saying that the movie Bhaag Milkha Bhaag is what has caused the gain in popularity for Milkha Singh, Salim Khan went on to tweet more, saying that even if Salman is not a sportsperson, he is “an A level swimmer, cyclist, and weight lifter.” He said that sportsmen everywhere are performing only because of sports lovers like himself, his son, and others.
Milkha Singh defended his stand by saying that the film industry hasn’t done him any favours by making a film on his life.
He further went on to say that he had just charged One Rupee for giving away his story to be made into a feature film, and it does not concern him that it earned crores. He also questioned the film industry as to when was the last time a sportsperson endorsed a movie.
Milkha Singh was reportedly unperturbed by Salim Khan’s tweets and said that many people from the country are on his side.
Replying to Salim’s tweets, Milkha had the following to say:
This controversy is not going to die down easily and might have one of two outcomes, and the entire nation knows both of them.
What are your thoughts about the entire situation?
News source: Hindustan Times
Cover image sources: 1 & 2