Nana Patekar voices concern against honour killings, Naxalism

Panaji, Nov 25: Voicing concern against 'honour killings', veteran actor Nana Patekar said he had supported his cousin sister when she had an inter-religion marriage. The actor also said he was against Naxals and the violence perpetrated by the ultras.

"Why are there honour killings? That is all nonsense. When my cousin sister got married to a Muslim boy, my family was baffled. All the brothers had abandoned her. But I said there is nothing wrong in it. We have not lost our sister. In fact, we got another family member in the form of that boy," the 63-year-old actor told reporters on the sidelines of the ongoing International Film Festival of India (IFFI).

The 'Welcome' actor said all his dialogues preaching Hindu-Muslim unity were not mere statements written by scriptwriter and enacted by him. "When I say 'Yeh dekho Hindu ka khoon aur yeh dekho Musalmaan ka', I really mean it. Why this hatred?" he asked.

The actor said that people should shun violence which is being perpetrated in different forms.

"The irony of a religion is that even after conversions people talk about cast. The converted person will like to have a bride from his own cast when it comes to marriage," said Patekar, whose film 'Dr Prakash Baba Amte – The Real Hero' is in the Indian Panorama section of IFFI.

The film is about social worker Dr Prakash Amte, son of legend Baba Amte, and their social service in Naxal-hit areas bordering Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.

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"I don't support Naxalites. My problem is that why they are doing it? As a ruler, we (government) must think about it. They are young boys and why they are getting into that mode," said the actor, who has been closely associated with the Amte family for over four decades now.

"I would be the last person to support them (Naxals). I don't support people killing others for their personal benefit," he said.

Patekar, who plays Dr Prakash in the movie, said the life of Amte family is an inspiration for everyone.

"Every day Dr Prakash and his wife walk three kms from their house. But they are never troubled by Naxalites. The Naxals are also human beings," he said. Patekar stars with actress Sonali Kulkarni in the movie.

PTI