Marathi actor Vikram Gokhale comes to Kangana Ranaut's defence, says 'mute spectators didn't save Indian freedom fighters'

Legendary actor Vikram Gokhale on Sunday began trending on Twitter after he expressed solidarity with Kangana Ranaut and backed her claim that "many were just mute spectators when freedom fighters were hanged during the British Raj."

The thespian, a familiar face in Marathi and Hindi film industry, said that he agreed with Ranaut's statements that "these spectators didn't save the freedom fighters who were fighting against the British."

"I agree with Ranaut's statement. We were given freedom. Many people were just mute spectators when freedom fighters were hanged (during the British Raj). These mute spectators included many senior leaders. They didn't save the freedom fighters who were fighting against the British," Gokhale said, at a public function in Pune, reported by news agency ANI.



Last week, Ranaut while speaking at the Times Now conclave had kicked up a storm when she had said that India’s Independence was sought as alms by some leaders at the time, and that India's true moment of freedom came only after Narendra Modi assumed charge of the nation in 2014. Soon after it catapulted into a controversy, with the 'Manikarnika' actress going on to defend herself in a social media post. She also said that she would return her Padma Shri award if proven wrong.

Gokhale, who is remembered for his performances in 'Khuda Gawaah', 'Ab Tak Chhappan 2' and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's 'Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam' as Aishwarya's strict father, also said that every political party has sought to benefit from controversies.

Replying to a query on the purported communal violence in Tripura and its echo in Amravati and other cities in Maharashtra where incidents of stone-pelting had taken place, the actor said communal riots are a result of vote bank politics. "Every political party plays that (vote bank politics)," news agency PTI quoted the actor as saying.