The #BlackLivesMatter movement in the United States has escalated by a mile after an African-American man was choked to death by a white police officer in Minneapolis. Thousands have taken to the streets across the country protesting against police brutality and America’s overall criminal justice system which is highly discriminatory towards people of colour.
People from all over the world are standing in solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter movement. Even Bollywood celebrities like Priyanka Chopra, Kareena Kapoor Khan, and Disha Patani have shown their support by speaking up on social media.
— Disha Patani (@DishPatani) May 30, 2020
However, Kangana Ranaut in a recent interview slammed Bollywood celebrities for speaking up against racial discrimination in the U.S. and supporting #BlackLivesMatter while on the other hand, they choose to remain silent about injustices back home in India.
Hindustan Times quotes her saying:
“The Sadhu-lynching happened a couple of weeks ago; still no one said a word. It happened in Maharashtra where most of these celebrities reside. Bollywood anyway is a derived name from Hollywood. It is a shame they (Bollywood celebrities) continue to live in a bubble and never fail to jump on the bandwagon, which can give them two minutes of fame, but ‘white people’ must drive the bandwagon. Perhaps, it is because of their pre-independence colonial slavery genes.”
Hinting at Bollywood celebrities speaking in support of Greta Thunberg, Kangana added:
“Even for environmental issues, you see them fight for a white teenage kid but so many incredible elderly women and even children. They are doing exceptionally well in India on environmental matters without any help or support. Some of them were honoured with the Padma Shri award. I was amazed to see their stories, but they never get the same acknowledgement from the industry. Perhaps, sadhus or tribal people aren’t fancy enough for the Bollywood crowd or their followers.”
Even actor Abhay Deol took to Instagram to call out “woke Indian celebrities”, asking them to take action against the “systematic problems” in our own country concerning migrant workers, the minority, and the poor.
“Now that ‘woke’ Indian celebrities and the middle class stand in solidarity with fighting systemic racism in America, perhaps they’d see how it manifests in their own backyard? America has exported violence to the world, they have made it a more dangerous place, it was but inevitable that it would come back karmically. I’m not saying they deserve it, I’m saying look at the picture in its totality. I’m saying support them by calling out the systemic problems in your own country, because they turn out to be one and the same thing. I’m saying follow their lead but not their actions. Create your own actions, your own movement, relevant to your own country. That is what the black lives matter movement is all about!” he wrote.
Have a look at Abhay Deol’s post here:
While it is commendable to see the entire world standing in solidarity with the #BlackLivesMatter movement, it is, however, disappointing to see Indian celebrities showing support for an international cause while they choose to remain silent regarding India’s pressing issues.
Do you agree with Kangana Ranaut and Abhay Deol? Tell us!