New Delhi/Nagpur: Lalitha Kumaramangalam, National Commission for Women chief, told some news agency that the commission has Salman Khan a letter asking why he made the remark. This is very sad. Just because he is Salman Khan doesn’t mean he can make such a statement,” she said, adding that the commission has given him seven days to apologise. “It is quite shameful that such a public figure can talk so irresponsibly.”
Activist Kavita Krishnan said, “Salman Khan’s comment trivialises rape, but it’s not just Salman, rape analogies are common in society and films.”
Designer-BJP spokesperson Shaina NC asked Salman to apologise for his comments. “Rape is an exercise of power to destruct a woman’s self esteem, from what I know of @BeingSalmanKhan he respects #women so he must apologise.”
One Twitter user wrote, “Wow..@BeingSalmanKhan compared his shooting schedule for #Sultan to him feeling like a raped woman…is he for real?? #ridiculous #epicfail.”
Another added, “I know Salman Khan has fans. But if his female fans are ok with his ‘I felt like a raped woman’ then I’ve just lost faith in the world.” “Salman Khan. Just another man who doesn’t realize the power of words?” posted a Twiiter user.
A girl wrote, “How does Salman Khan have fans? I’m very curious to know. And if he continues to have female fans after this then I fear for this world!”
He was quoted by the site SpotboyE as saying during a media interaction on the weekend: “When I used to walk out of the ring, after the shoot, I used to feel like a raped woman. I couldn’t walk straight.”
In the audio of the interaction on Saturday, he appeared to retract seconds later, saying: “I don’t think I should have…”
The 50-year-old was speaking about filming the wrestling scenes in Sultan and describing what he felt was a grueling shoot, involving “lifting the same 120-kilo guy 10 times for 10 different angles”.
After the rape comment, the actor was heard clarifying to journalists: “It feels like the most difficult…I couldn’t take steps. I couldn’t take steps.”
