We have Irrfan Khan's complete statement. And looks like he got the hard end of the bargain

"(I think the ones who are releasing Fatwa against me, should release Fatwa against the ones who are showing Islam in a bad light and the ones who have made terrorism a business. I am proud and fortunate to have been born in a country which doesn't run on the rules and regulations set by a religion.

We've forgotten the real essence of all our rituals and festivals. We have been mocking them. Qurbani is an important festival. It means sacrifice. It's you who needs to sacrifice here and not an innocent animal. When this ritual came into existence, the prime source of food were cattle and animals. They had to sacrifice something which is dear to them and share it with others.

However, today, you go and buy two goats from the market. How do these goats become dear to you? You don't have anything to do with these goats; how can you sacrifice them in the place of something which is dear to you?

The ones who do Qurbani should ask themselves how they reap the reward of sanctity by taking somebody else's life?

This is common sense. What I mean is that we should find out and understand the real essence of rituals and festivals and why they were created.)"

While most media houses washed their hands off the controversy, Catch got access to the entire chunk of the audio file containing Irrfan Khan's complete statement.

It wasn't a random stance on religion and Islamic practices. This took place at a press conference which was a part of the promotions for his upcoming movie Madaari in Jaipur, Rajasthan. Here, Irrfan was asked by a reporter (whose voice can be heard in the audio file) about his views on Qurbani and fasting during Ramadan. Irrfan, who is often described as a 'thinking actor', explained his views.

His views might or might not be wrong. They may even have hurt a few sentiments. But, his views are his views. Can't an actor, who is a citizen of this country, express what he feels about the cultural and religious diversities that exist in his country?

And how fair is it to sell the incomplete truth?

As Irrfan himself had said in one of his popular interviews: "My relationship with my God is private. I will choose how to please him. I would, if I want to, do the Ekadashi Vrat. I would, if I want to, fast during Ramadan." In the same interview, he said that when actors have opinions about issues, they are vulnerable to criticism.

In the end, we need to realise that he expressed what he believed in. Freedom of expression is still a thing in our country, right?

-- Edited by Aishwarya Yerra