Mumbai: Actor Aamir Khan has refused to apologise for speaking out against the Sardar Sarovar dam in Gujarat, even though his comments led to an unofficial ban on his new movie Fanaa there.
Theatre owners and activists of the Bharatiya Janata Party said this week that Fanaa will not be screened in Gujarat until Khan takes back his remarks.
Supporters of the Narmada Dam project say it will eventually provide drinking water to 40 million people, irrigate land and generate electricity for Gujarat, Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh.
But the project's opponents contend that the homes and farms of 35,000 families will be submerged when the dam is complete.
In April, Khan joined other political activists in urging the Government to stop work on the project until villagers and farmers are adequately compensated.
"I haven't done anything wrong so why should I apologise?" Khan said on Friday. "The point is that people affected by the dam need homes and a livelihood."
"I'm not an engineer. My only plea is that those who have been rendered homeless should be given a roof," a newspaper quoted Khan as saying.
Earlier, the film's director, Kunal Kohli, said he was not concerned about the loss of profits from the Gujarat ban.
"Why is an Indian citizen not allowed to express an opinion? Just because he is an actor why can't he raise his voice against issues?" said Kohli. "Freedom of speech is meant to be a fundamental right and it should be allowed in a true democracy."
Khan said the people in Gujarat who want to see Fanaa will find a way.
"I'm doing what I think is right, even if it harms me somewhat," he said.
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