Be 'positive' to victims of HIV/AIDS: Kamal Hassan

Chennai, Nov 30 (UNI) The HIV/AIDS affected are entitled to enjoy all emotional and humanitarian support the society and family normally give to patients of other diseases, says well-known actor Kamal Hassan, the UN ambassador for the Protection of the Rights of the HIV positives.

Speaking to UNI after doing the new role in real life, he said ''a normal person yearns for the tender loving care of his/her family in times of any sickness. It is consoling to have our dear ones around us. Then why do we deny it to the HIV +ves?'' The disease should be considered like any other infirmity and the society should desist from any kind of discrimination to the affected. ''It is upto a family to decide on its attitude towards an HIV-affected member. I come from a family of strong devouts, but it has been positive to my being an atheist,'' he said.

He said as a member of the film fraternity he felt that the cine artistes should use their ''star power'' to create awareness about the disease and provide a platform to fight for the rights of the HIV affected.

Asked whether he wished to direct/act in a film with a strong anti-HIV message like Prabhu Deva's ''Prarambha', an internationally aclaimed Kannada movie, he said ''films can easily pass on the message.

''But, now, I am unable to think of such an endeavour due to time constraints'', the acclaimed actor said.

He said ''there should be more of governmental efforts to contain the disease and to ensure the rehabilitation of the unfortunate.'' ''The disease has a wider prevalence-- cutting across religion, country and ethnicity. Hence, the message against it also should have an international appeal. No one can shirk the responsibility of spreading an anti HIV/AIDS message, because it concerns us all,'' Kamal said.

Kamal, however, declined to talk anything about his forthcoming film 'Dasaavatharam' in which he plays ten roles or about the film industry in general.

UNI