Amid Bollywood’s “Drug Scandal”, Akshay Kumar’s #NotAllActors Appeal is Nauseating

Bollywood

Amid Bollywood’s “Drug Scandal”, Akshay Kumar’s #NotAllActors Appeal is Nauseating

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Illustration: Reynold Mascarenhas

For the last few months TV news channels have kept up their relentless coverage of the alleged drug scandal in Bollywood. Several familiar faces, such as Deepika Padukone and Sara Ali Khan, have been summoned to the NCB headquarters, as the investigations into the alleged drug habits continue to gain steam.

But even as the industry continues to get dragged through the mud, very few big celebrities have taken the time out to address the claims. In a new video released on Twitter, however, actor Akshay Kumar has finally broken his silence on the case, even if it was only to clarify that he has never consumed drugs himself.

The actor started out by assuring fans of the industry that Bollywood would be nothing without them. “Even though we are called ‘stars’, it is you who has made Bollywood what it is, with your love,” the actor says in Hindi, before adding, “So today, if your sentiments are angry, we accept that anger.”

Kumar goes on to address the allegations of drug abuse in Bollywood, and said Sushant Singh Rajput’s death — which was recently confirmed to be a case of suicide — had forced the industry to introspect.

“After the sudden death of Sushant Singh Rajput, a lot of issues came to light which pained us as much as they pained you. These issues forced us to look at what is happening in our own backyard. It forced us to examine many ills of the film industry,” he said, before accepting that there was a “drug problem” in the industry.

“Use of drugs is a legal matter and I am confident that whatever action will be taken by our law enforcement agencies and courts will be absolutely correct… But please, I implore you with folded hands, do not look at the entire industry in the same tainted light. That is not correct,” he said, before urging the media to report with a little more sensitivity.

The actor, whose new film BellBottom! was announced through a teaser today, received a lot of praise for finally speaking out about issues concerning the industry that gave him such success. But on the other hand, many found his statement to be too little too late.

Others also claimed that after such a long period of silence, the actor had finally decided to speak up only because of the release of his new movie, and the fact that theatres are opening in Mumbai for the first time in seven months on October 15.

In his address, the actor also didn’t comment on how Rhea Chakraborty was accused of murder, or how there has been a targetted campaign against Bollywood, or the alleged “mafia” that is said to be ruining young actor’s lives. With such grave claims being levelled at the industry, it’s likely that Kumar’s #NotAllActors appeal will find few takers.

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