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28 March 2024

End of war? Aishwarya Rai speaks in favour of Salman Khan

Published
By Staff/AFP

India's sports stars reacted with dismay after Bollywood's Salman Khan was appointed goodwill ambassador for India's Olympic team in the Rio Games later this year.

Khan, who was cleared last year of killing a homeless man in a hit-and-run crash, was named by the Indian Olympic Association (IOA) to boost public support for the Indian contingent.

His appointment was criticised by sportsman and turned into a major debate on social media.

Mary Kom, playfully flexes her biceps to tease Salman Khan at an event to announce Khan as the goodwill ambassador for Rio Olympics 2016 in New Delhi, India. (AP)

Khan, acquitted of culpable homicide in December, won support from shooter Abhinav Bindra, who won gold in 2008 in Beijing.

But he also found support from a very unlikely source - former girlfriend Aishwarya Rai Bachchan.

At an event for unveiling the Cannes 2016 collection for cosmetic giant Loreal, Aishwarya was questioned regarding Salman's controversy.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan poses during the launch of L'Oreal Paris Cannes Collection 2016 in Mumbai. (AFP)

Casting her vote in favour of Mr Khan, the former Miss World said today, "Anybody who is doing good to represent the country and anyone who is working or speaking or standing up for the betterment of whatever vocation we have in our country be it Sports, art or music needs to be recognised."

It is surprising that Rai even responded to the question as in the past both stars have tactfully avoided talking about each other.

Salman and Aishwarya's relationship was one that kept gossip columns busy for a long time, back in the 2000s. The actors, who began dating each other during the shoot of Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam', have long parted ways. But even now, more than a decade after the two broke up, Salman and Aishwarya still occasionally find their names mentioned together.

Opposition

Sardar Singh, Captain Indian Women Hockey Team (Rio Qualified) with Salman Khan. (AP)

Olympic wrestler Yogeshwar Dutt questioned how a film star was qualified to promote the country's athletes, suggesting the appointment of well-known sports persons instead - including those who had represented their country.

"Everybody has the right to promote movies in India, but Olympics is not a place to promote films," Dutt, who won bronze at the 2012 Olympics in London, said on Twitter.

"Can anyone tell me what is the role of good will ambassador? Why are you fooling the public?" he said.

Khan's appointment comes months before the release of his new film 'Sultan' in which he plays a wrestler.

Indian Contingent for Rio Olympics 2016 Deepika Kumari, left, Sardar Singh, second left, Manika Batra, right, Ritu Rani, second right and Indian boxer Mary Kom, third from right, pose with Bollywood actor Salman Khan, centre, at an event to announce Khan as the goodwill ambassador for Rio Olympics 2016 in New Delhi, India. (AP)

Former Olympian Milkha Singh, known as 'the Flying Sikh' and considered a sprint legend in India, said the government should intervene to overturn the decision.

"India has produced so many sports persons who have given their sweat and blood for the country," Singh told the Press Trust of India news agency.

"I want to ask has Bollywood ever made any sportsperson an ambassador for any of their mega events?" said Singh, who finished fourth in the 400-metres final at the 1960 Olympics in Rome after starting favourite.

The IOA defended the decision, saying young people identified with the 50-year-old actor who is one of Bollywood's biggest box office draws.