Lara Dutta calls PM Modi courageous for speaking on ‘Muslim quota’: ‘Have to stand by what you believe in’

Lara Dutta is the first Bollywood star to respond to Prime Minister Modi’s recent remarks on Muslims during a rally in Rajasthan.

Lara Dutta, an actor, has made a rare political comment. In a new interview with Zoom, Lara tackled Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks on Muslims during a rally in Rajasthan, which have been widely publicized and debated across the country this week. (also read: PM Modi’s Rajasthan rally statements stir political firestorm)

‘He has bravery.’
In the interview, Lara stated that one must ‘stand up to their convictions’. “Ultimately, we are all human beings. It’s really difficult to please everyone all the time. Just like performers, our country’s Prime Minister is not immune to online criticism. We all take it in stride. You can’t keep tiptoeing around topics to avoid upsetting one side or the other. Ultimately, you must be faithful to your principles and convictions. If he has the fortitude to do so, he deserves praise. “Ultimately, you have to stick to what you believe in,” she remarked.

What did Prime Minister Narendra Modi say?
At a rally in Rajasthan, PM Modi stated that when the Congress party was in power, ‘they believed Muslims have the first right over the country’s resources. If it returns to power, the party “will gather all your wealth and distribute it among those who have more children,” he declared as the audience applauded.

“They will distribute it among infiltrators,” he said, as if to ask, “Do you think your hard-earned money should be given to infiltrators?”

What is next for Lara?
Lara is presently marketing her upcoming series, Ranneeti: Balakot & Beyond. Lara Dutta plays the role of a power broker, diving into the complexities of modern warfare and geopolitics.

The series, directed by Santosh Singh, promises to reveal hitherto unreported stories about a significant defense operation, giving light on the fusion of traditional and contemporary fighting strategies. In an ANI interview, Lara addressed the suspicion around nationalistic narratives, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and appreciating stories from India’s own soil.

She added, “People will constantly claim that this is propaganda. But we don’t say that when we watch other Hollywood films, such as Zero Dark Thirty. So, why do we always apply this to our country’s affairs?