Aamir ‘dares' Modi, enters Gujarat for 'Idiots' promotion

‘Idiot’ Aamir Khan entered on Thursday the territory of the very man, Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi, he had strongly criticised for failing to control the 2006 violence in Vadodara, inviting a ban on his movies Taare Zameen Par and Fanaa.

The 44-year-old actor, who has launched a novel two-week nationwide catch-me-if-you-can promotion for his latest movie — 3 Idiots — was not accompanied by his bodyguards and, as such, was extremely vulnerable. His only protection was his disguise, but he pulled it off quite well.

Dressed in a black T-shirt bearing the name of Salman Khan’s charity Being Human and jeans, Aamir paid a surprise visit to Lok Niketan, a small school run on Gandhian principles at Palanpur village, about 135 km from Ahmedabad in Banaskantha district.

Once at the school, the actor shed his mask and mingled with students, playing cricket, dancing and sharing lunch.

The students, who weave their own khadi uniform, were thrilled to meet their idol. Aamir made it a point to meet all students, teachers and the principal, BD Rajput. He asked the students about their dreams and ate food cooked by a girl’s grandmother. The school, in turn, felicitated him with a khadi garland. Rajput said, “Aamir said he wanted to try and imbibe Gandhian values.”

A source at the school said: “Aamir took a bold step to visit Gujarat, a state he hadn’t visited since the backlash he faced for supporting Narmada Bachao Andolan and criticising Modi. Since he is in disguise, he cannot take along bodyguards or seek police help. It shows his courage.”

(With PTI inputs)