- An advertisement featuring actors Aamir Khan and Kiara Advani has come under fire online for allegedly hurting religious sentiments.
- Many on social media have criticised the ad for hurting the sentiments of Hindus.
- Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri shared the video of the ad on social media, criticising the brand for their misplaced ‘social activism’.
An advertisement featuring actors Aamir Khan and Kiara Advani has come under fire online for allegedly hurting religious sentiments. Many on social media have criticised the ad for hurting the sentiments of Hindus. Filmmaker Vivek Agnihotri shared the video of the ad on social media, criticising the brand for their misplaced ‘social activism’ and called the makers ‘idiots’.
[embedpost slug=”vivek-agnihotri-reveals-his-reason-of-not-attending-koffee-with-karan/”]
The ad in question is for AU Small Finance Bank. It shows Aamir and Kiara Advani as newlyweds travelling back from their wedding in a car. They discuss that none of them cried during the bidaai (a post wedding ceremony), before they reach their house. It is then revealed that contrary to the usual practice, it is the groom, who has moved to the bride’s house to help her in taking care of her ailing father. The groom takes the first step in their new house, as opposed to the tradition of the bride doing so. Aamir then appears in a bank and says in Hindi, “Why should traditions that have continued for centuries continue to do so? That’s why we question every banking tradition. So that you get the best service.”
Sharing the ad on Twitter, Vivek wrote on Monday afternoon, “I just fail to understand since when banks have become responsible for changing social & religious traditions? I think @aubankindia should do activism by changing corrupt banking system.” The ad has been slammed by many online for ‘mocking’ Hindu culture and showing traditions in bad light. Taking note of that, Vivek further wrote, “Aisi bakwaas karte hain fir kehte hain Hindus are trolling (they do nonsense like these and then say Hindus are trolling). Idiots.”
Many even stated on Twitter that they were protesting by cancelling their bank accounts. On Twitter, boycott discussions had started by Monday afternoon. However, as of yet, neither the bank nor the performers have commented on the situation.
[embedpost slug=”vivek-agnihotri-says-nepotism-in-bollywood-began-post-2000/”]
This scandal is not the first of its kind for Aamir Khan. The actor had previously come under fire for remarks he made regarding religious intolerance in 2016 in which he said his wife Kiran Rao at the time felt “unsafe” in India. Just before the release of his most recent movie, Laal Singh Chaddha, in August, the words were brought up once more, and many people demanded that Aamir apologise for his previous remarks or risk being subject to a boycott. Laal Singh Chaddha ultimately failed to make even $100 crore at the global box office, becoming a box office catastrophe.
