Salman Khan is back in controversy yet again, this time for what he said. In his interview to Spotboye.com, the Sultan actor was quoted as saying,"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."
This was in reference to the rigorous shooting schedule of'Sultan'. "While shooting, during those six hours, there'd be so much of lifting and thrusting on the ground involved. That was tough for me because if I was lifting, I'd have to lift the same 120-kilo guy 10 times for 10 different angles. And likewise, get thrown that many times on the ground. This act is not repeated that many times in the real fights in the ring," he said before quoting his feeling of a "raped woman."
Salman Khan forgot that rape isn't just about not walking straight. A woman feels violated, questions her self-worth and her self-esteem. Rape crushes her soul. Did he feel all of it? I don't think so. A physically demanding shoot is not the same as rape.
Rape does not involve consent. Was he forced into this? Don't think so.
I love Salman Khan, was a huge fan but I think this statement is beneath him. While Bollywood ridiculed Tanmay Bhat for taking jibes at Sachin Tendulkar and Lata Mangeshkar, why is that Bollywood silent now? This was WORSE. So not "Being Human".
I request everyone reading this to not use the word "rape" so casually. You need to improve your vocabulary to find words that describe your situation. A rape has worse implications than just physical. It destroys a person's self-esteem.
Salman also referred to women as "vice" in the same interview. He said that he gave up on every "vice" - cigarette, alcohol, etc. however, he couldn't give up on women. Smells of objectification. One more statement that goes against him.
Bhai doesn't need anyone to tarnish his image, he can do it himself. He should take a cue from Shah Rukh Khan, the best speaker in Bollywood, who knows how to treat women and how to speak of them.
UPDATE: Salman Khan retracted from his statement, the moment he blurted it out. What he actually said: "When I used to walk out of that ring, it used to feel actually like a raped woman walking out. I don't think I should have(pauses). It feels like the most difficult. I couldn't take steps. I couldn't take steps."
He asked the press to not use the rape analogy in writing. A bid to save himself the PR hassle or a realisation of his mistake?
His statement, "I don't think I should have(said that)" can be heard in an audio recording. Yes, he apologised immediately. Whether he should have said it all, no. However, the press is also at fault here, to not use the exact statement.
Should he apologise? yes. A person his stature should realise the consequence of such a statement. An apology serves as an acknowledgement of his mistake. Till then, he may be perceived as an egotistical misogynist. Salman's movies and past are only serving as a deterrent.
Here's the audio recording: https://twitter.com/EntDC/status/745126853845782528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
