{"id":771136,"date":"2019-12-24T19:23:49","date_gmt":"2019-12-24T19:23:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ghana-mma.com\/2019\/12\/24\/director-calls-on-bollywood-stars-to-break-silence-over-citizenship-law\/"},"modified":"2019-12-24T19:23:49","modified_gmt":"2019-12-24T19:23:49","slug":"director-calls-on-bollywood-stars-to-break-silence-over-citizenship-law","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ghanamma.com\/2019\/12\/24\/director-calls-on-bollywood-stars-to-break-silence-over-citizenship-law\/","title":{"rendered":"Director calls on Bollywood stars to break silence over citizenship law"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Mumbai – One of Bollywood’s leading directors called on three superstar actors to break their silence about a new citizenship law that has triggered riots in India, saying they could influence millions of fans.<\/p>\n

At least 21 people have died since crowds took to the streets enraged by the Hindu nationalist-led government’s legislation, which critics say discriminates against Muslims.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

The violence and the political storm raging around it has posed a dilemma for a film industry that is dominated by Muslim actors, directors and crew but caters for India’s broader, predominantly Hindu population.<\/p>\n

A handful of figures have spoken out against the law and the violence, some at rallies in Mumbai, the heart of Bollywood. But none of its three leading stars – Aamir Khan, Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan – have made public statements. All three are Muslim.<\/p>\n

“These three actors and their fan following is something else. One word from them can influence millions,” director Anubhav Sinha, a critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, told Reuters.<\/p>\n