Type ‘Anupam Kher and Twitter’ on Google and you will be slapped with a page full of spats that Kher has had. Click on the next page and the lesser-known news websites would have done similar stories. Page number 3,4 and 5 allude to similar spats but with spelling errors. Essentially Google is bending under the weight of all the controversies that Kher has embroiled himself in on social media.
On the actor’s 60th birthday, we bring you a leaf out of his Twitter history books.
With Rajdeep Sardesai on the Issue of Kashmiri Pandits
In October when the Shiv Sainiks took to “non-violent” means to protest against Ghulam Ali’s concert and Khurshid Kasuri’s book launch, Rajdeep Sardesai took to Twitter to demand explanations from Aditya Thackeray. Thackeray and Sardesai exchanged a bunch of open letters and Shiv Sena termed the incidents “India’s response to Kashmir, 26/11 and other terror activities”. The mention of Kashmir drew Kher’s ire and he and tweeted the following to Sardesai:
On Aamir Khan’s (In)Famous Intolerance Remark
When Aamir Khan once remarked how his wife feels insecure in the country due to rising incidents of intolerance, he didn’t forsee the outrage that would follow. His remarks were decried with gusto both on social media and the streets. Kher too lent his voice to the backlash against Aamir, here’s what he had to say:
On Being Denied a Visa to Pakistan
The actor was miffed after he claimed that the Pakistani authorities had denied him a visa to attend the Karachi Literary Festival starting 5 February.
Kher, who was awarded the Padma Bhushan in January, alleged that he was the only one of the 18 Indian delegates invited to the event whose passport hadn’t been stamped.
Inevitably, it all began on social media, when Kher posted a tweet announcing that his visa had been denied.
On Vishal Bhardwaj’s Haider
Months after the #BoycottHaider and #HaiderTrueCinema hashtags trended on Twitter, Anupam Kher joined the bandwagon. Kher lashed out at director Vishal Bhardwaj after the latter dedicated the National Awards that Haider won to Kashmiri Pandits.
Mr Kher, you give tremendous fodder for tweeple to chew on for days. Just a tiny suggestion – do not take a back seat in acting, we love you the most on-screen. Many happy returns of the day!
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)