In a candid revelation, actor Imran Khan has disclosed that his uncle and Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan received severe death threats following his groundbreaking television show Satyamev Jayate. The show, which tackled some of India's most sensitive social issues, apparently angered powerful groups engaged in the very practices it condemned.
The High Cost of Speaking Out
During a recent appearance on the show 'Unfiltered by Samdish', Imran Khan opened up about the backlash faced by Aamir Khan. He stated that he has known Aamir his entire life and trusts his intentions implicitly. However, the actor-host faced significant danger for his work.
"His episode on female infanticide angered a lot of folks who issued death threats," Imran revealed. He further added in Hindi, "Mamu jaan bechare ko desh se bhagane ki koshish kar rahe hain kab se (Many have been trying to scare my poor uncle, Aamir, away from the country for a long time)."
A Chilling Message for Dissent
Imran Khan framed these threats as a harsh lesson for anyone in the public eye who chooses to address contentious topics. He described the underlying message from such elements as a warning to keep your head down and not speak too much.
He chillingly paraphrased the threat: "Na teri ghar aa jayenge, aur ghar ko jalayenge (Otherwise, we’ll come to your house and burn it down)." According to Imran, this experience, while terrifying, is part of a crucial learning about the risks associated with activism in the entertainment industry.
Personal Struggles with Identity and Profession
Moving from his uncle's experience to his own, Imran Khan highlighted the dual challenges he faces in Mumbai's rental housing market. The actor, who is preparing for a comeback after a decade with the film 'Happy Patel Khatarnak Jasoos', stated that finding a home is difficult due to both his religious identity and his profession.
"For me, there’s an added layer of weirdness. Sometimes people don’t want film professionals in their building. I am a Muslim, even though I don’t identify as one (and an actor as well)," he explained. He admitted that these combined identities make the search for rental accommodation particularly tough for individuals like him.
The Legacy of Satyamev Jayate
Aamir Khan's talk show Satyamev Jayate aired from 2012 to 2014 and became a national phenomenon. Each episode focused on a different deep-rooted social ill, sparking conversations in households across India.
The show's wide-ranging topics included:
- Female foeticide and infanticide
- Child sexual abuse
- The dowry system
- Casteism and untouchability
- Rape and sexual violence
- Issues faced by the LGBTQ+ community
While the program was lauded for its bold journalism and impact, Imran Khan's revelations underscore the personal cost and risks Aamir Khan undertook as its creator, host, and co-producer.
