Amitabh Bachchan today expressed his wish of seeing a free India where rape crimes would be non-existent. When asked to elaborate the significance of freedom in today’s times ahead of India’s Independence Day, the megastar told Indian Express.com, “Bharat varsh rape se free ho (Want India to be free of rapes).”
The actor was speaking at the trailer launch of his upcoming next, Pink, in which he plays the role of a senior lawyer. The hard-hitting trailer showcases Amitabh in his lawyer avatar mouthing dialogues that are provocative and forceful. While that is a part of his character, Amitabh as an Indian agreed sexual crimes towards women are disgusting and needs to be remedied.
Said Amitabh, “It is extremely disgusting and as a nation we at times hang our heads in shame reading these several incidents that have happened which should not have happened. All of us as Indians and individuals need to educate ourselves to give importance the women in our lives and to understand their contribution and presence in a society is equally important as men. We need to have strong laws. There are many ways in which you and me would want to educate. Lots of people say put the rapists out in the market and we will deal with him. But that doesn’t go according to the law of the land. There is a law and you have to follow it. Sometimes you feel disillusioned by the outcome, sometimes you feel that the due procedure has been followed and this will continue but what is the base of all this.”
He blamed India losing respect for women as the reason for this malaise. “The base is somewhere we are losing respect for the female gender. And that can be remedied through education, and through films like Pink to give them the respect and honour and their right place in the society. That’s what we are all working towards. It will take time but it will happen.”
