‘IT’S SPINELESS TO NOT SPEAK OUT’

Be it supporting cricketer Virender Sehwag in making fun of the Gurmehar Kaur placard video or appealing to Jats to tone down their protests, actor Randeep Hooda (above) is forthright about expressing his views through social media. No matter what the reactions, he isn’t interested in mincing words in order to protect his celebrity image. “In today’s world, it is better to have an opinion than to be spineless,” says Hooda, speaking to us on a visit to Delhi. “I feel that people get on social media to be offended, which is not the case with me. I get there to highlight issues. I think there’s a lot of good in the world, too, and my general effort is to highlight that.” The 40-year-old actor feels that opinions are subject to change and whatever is said or done on social media should not be seen as the final word. “Opinions change — it’s only when you have a dialogue when they change. Whatever you write or put out is not patthar ki lakeer. You might feel a certain way in the heat of the moment, but that may not define your entire view,” says the actor, who has done some hard-hitting films, such as Sarbjit (2016), Rang Rasiya (2014) and Highway (2014). Hooda feels that e-debating has its pros and cons. He says, “When you’re so active in conversing on that platform, sometimes your thoughts are misconstrued, but I think that’s the part of the game, and I personally feel [social media] is a great platform for discussing ideas. You get feedback, everyone has a voice... it’s very democratic. He jokes, “Opinions and armpits... everyone has them. Not everyone’s is important but everyone has the right to it.” Snigdha Ahuja

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