July 20, 2017
Actor Kunal Kapoor, who will be seen in
Tigmanshu Dhulia's "Raag Desh - Birth of a Nation", believes patriotism
nowadays has become a social media post.
"The way I look at it, patriotism now has become a social media post.
You feel you put something on social media, you abuse someone... that's
your extent of patriotism. Lynching somebody is patriotism... that's
not patriotism," Kapoor told the media here on Thursday when asked on
his take on patriotism and nationalism.
The "Rang De Basanti" actor feels patriotism stands for equal
opportunities and dissent has a key role to play in it.
"I think its about what is the ideology your country is built upon.
What does your country stand for? I think it stands for equal
opportunities. Its not about putting somebody down. I think dissent is
a very important part of patriotism... dissent is not anti-national,"
he said.
"Raag Desh" is about the contribution of Subhas Chandra Bose's Indian
National Army (INA) in India's independence.
It revolves around the famous Red Fort trial of three INA officers
(Colonel Prem Sahgal, Shah Nawaz Khan, Gurubaksh Singh Dhillon).
Asked about the film's relevance in the wake of the rise of
nationalistic fervour, Kapoor, who portrays Shah Nawaz Khan, said the
movie is "very timely" as it talks about secularism and other issues.
"I do believe this is a very timely film because it talks about a lot
of important issues... it talks about secularism... all three (INA
officers) brought country together... I am hoping that young people go
and watch it. When you look at the West... there films celebrate
history... we don't," he added.