Vishal Dadlani to SRK, Salman to Rajinikanth, no celeb spared for speaking their mind

Before Vishal Dadlani, it was Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Irrfan, and even Thalaivar Rajinikanth himself. Every time they spoke their mind on political issues, they were asked to shut up.

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(L to R) Shah Rukh Khan, Vishal Dadlani, Rajinikanth

New Delhi,UPDATED: Aug 29, 2016 13:47 IST

Bollywood singer and vocal Aam Aadmi Party supporter Vishal Dadlani got into trouble on Twitter when he criticised the presence of Sri Tarun Sagar, a noted Jain monk, at the Haryana assembly, where he gave a 40-minute long speech in nude.

ALSO READ: Vishal Dadlani's sarcastic tweet on Jain monk Tarun Sagar backfires, musician vows to quit politics

In his speech, he spoke about various topics; female foeticide, politicians with criminal cases filed against them and how Pakistan harbours terrorism among many. Sagar's husband-wife analogy to explain the equation between dharma and politics had created a fuss on social media after many people slammed it as misogynistic.

Vishal tweeted his displeasure about Sri Tarun and took a dig at Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi's 'Achche Din' catchphrase, and of course, the Jain monk's nudity.

However, very soon, thousands of Jains expressed their dislike for Vishal's tweet. After a point, chief minister of Delhi and AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal also expressed his reverence for 'Tarun Sagar ji'.

All of this prompted Vishal to take down the tweet and he went on an apology spree on Twitter.

This incident of an artist, who was vocal about his views on sensitive topics like politics and religion, brings to mind earlier instances of 'celebs' bearing the brunt of the overtly touchy political janta and religious opinion-makers, for speaking their mind.

Shah Rukh Khan's famous intolerance comment in late 2015 sent the nation's patriots on a hyperdrive.

Besides getting bashed on social media, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal also staged protests in Rajasthan against Dilwale which released in December last year. Shah Rukh had to apologise unconditionally to get people to come and watch his film.

ALSO READ: There is extreme intolerance in this country, says Shah Rukh Khan

Aamir Khan was not left far behind as he too was pulled into the 'intolerance' debate.

Thankfully, he did not have any film releasing in 2015, so he did not have to issue a statement of apology. However, Snapdeal, the e-commerce company, for which Aamir was the brand ambassador had to suffer. Lakhs downgraded the ratings of the android app and many uninstalled the app.

ALSO READ: Aamir Khan joins intolerance debate, says wife Kiran Rao also wanted to leave India

The protest continued even after Snapdeal issued a statement and did not stop till Snapdeal removed Aamir from its Twitter home page.

Irrfan also had to face the sweet chin music of the religious-political nexus. Weeks before his film Madaari was supposed to release this year, his comments on Ramzan and Muslims not speaking out against terrorism, infiuriated Muslim clerics, particularly those in his hometown Jaipur.

The clerics asked him to stay shut and concentrate on his acting.

ALSO READ: Irrfan questions Ramzan fast, Muslim clerics ask him to focus on acting

Salman Khan, controversy's favourite child was also not spared when he tweeted in defense of 1993 Bombay blasts accused Yakub Memon.

He asked why the government was holding Yakub responsible while his elder brother, the prime accused, Tiger Memon was absconding.

ALSO READ: Salman Khan under fire for tweet in support of Yakub Menon

Down South, superstar Rajinikanth had to face brickbats from the liberal intelligentsia, when he spoke in support of Sanjay Dutt when the Munna Bhai actor was sentenced to a five-year prison term in 2013 for illegally owning arms.

Infact, more recently, Kannada actor and Congress leader Ramya was also not spared for going against Indian defence minister Manohar Parrikar's comment 'Pakistan is hell'.