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Salim Khan responds to Salman Khan’s Rio Olympics controversy

Salman Khan

The recent appointment of one of Bollywood’s leading actors, Salman Khan, as Goodwill Ambassador of the 2016 Olympics in Rio has sparked much controversy after several current and former sports icons criticised the move.��Winner of the 2012 London Olympics bronze medallist for wresting, Yogeshwar Dutt, expressed his displeasure publicly with a series of tweets barely an hour after the decision was announced.

After the philanthropist was appointed to represent the Indian contingency at the 2016 Olympics on Saturday, several members of the Indian sports fraternity questioned the association made between the film industry and the sporting event, including former athlete Milkha Singh who lashed out at the decision of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).

However, the��actor’s father and screenwriter Salim Khan took to his official Twitter page to respond to Singh’s disapproval, making direct reference to the movie which garnered Singh��further appreciation tentatively titled, ‘Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'(2013).

“Milkhaji it is not Bollywood, it is the Indian Film Industry and that too the largest in the world. The same industry which resurrected you from fading away in oblivion.”

The denunciation has spurred a lot of censure from sports lovers.

As reported by Pinkvilla,��Salim Khan stood his ground during an interview, claiming that cinema provides the necessary platform for raising awareness of legendary sportsmen on screen, who might otherwise have been forgotten. “Many sportsmen who fade away with time are revived via films. Sometimes we feel ashamed of the fact that we are unaware of such sportsmen in our country after watching films made on them.”

Khan acknowledged��that his son, Salman Khan’s involvement should be seen as a mode of encouraging sports amongst today’s youth, rather than publicity stunt or promotional event for a film, “Salman is a popular person….when he goes to schools, colleges and talks to students and children about the sports, they will definitely listen…Salman’s films sell way before they are released. If the film is good, of course they will sell, if not then it will flop like some of his projects have in the past. Salman Khan’s film doesn’t work only by his name, they work because of the entire team’s effort.”

Filmmaker Subhash Ghai has also extended his support in favour of the superstar and said that instead of picking at the appointment, one should appreciate the movie which can inspire the youth of the country.

Stay updated with��BizAsia for more.