Never faced any intolerance, except when smoking: Shah Rukh

Superstar Shah Rukh Khan says he does not believe there is intolerance in the country, clarifying that his earlier comments on the issue were misconstrued.

The actor, who faced a strong backlash from the right wing groups for his remarks on intolerance in November, said he was asked to speak about future generation and his advice to them was taken out of context.

“I do not think there is intolerance. The question that was asked, for which people pounced on me, was ‘what would you say to the future generation?’ because I now fall under the seniority zone...

“Fifty per cent of our population is 25 now. If I can give any advice to them, then it would be to not differentiate in the name of region, religion, caste, colour, creed, sex or gender,” Shah Rukh said.

The 50-year-old actor said he never faced any intolerance except for his habit of smoking.

“I never meant that it is happening now. I don’t think. I will be very clear.... everything is very nice in our country... God bless India, long live us, long live us Indians. There is no problem and nobody has been intolerant towards me except when I smoke,” the actor said, adding his stand had nothing to do with the release of his film.

Calling himself a patriot and a nationalist, SRK said he was sorry if anyone misunderstood him.

“I think we are on the cusp of modernisation and best of places a country can be. We will, we can and we should be superpower. There are only small issues for young generation.

I am not saying the generation which exists... I am not saying right now we have intolerance... I am not saying there is a problem.

“Nowhere have I said anything which is wrong and having said that, the fact that every time I speak, things are misunderstood,” SRK said, joking that from now on he should only be asked questions about his trivialities and films.

After SRK, Aamir had landed in trouble for speaking out against the growing atmosphere of intolerance in the country.