Mumbai: 
Shabana Azmi is quite taken aback by 'dear friend' Shatrughan Sinha's outburst against her after she spoke about discrimination against Muslims on Karan Thapar's talk show.
Sinha wants Shabana to withdraw her statements. But Shabana is adamant. "I am absolutely not going to withdraw my statements. Behind the clamour for an apology lies the unstated demand that Muslims who are successful must shut up and be grateful for what they have. Did anyone ever ask men to apologise for gender-biased statements or the elite for their discrimination against the poor? Oh, for the joy of being a Muslim even if naam ke vaaste during these times!"
It isn't just discrimination against Muslims that bothers Shabana. "Of course discrimination exists in India against all kinds of minorities. Look at what we've done to the Dalits. What about women? Look at the rampant female foeticide in the country. But instead of despairing about this, we should be rejoicing because there's a robust resistance from civil society against discrimination. That's where we draw our strength from, and not by pretending discrimination doesn't exist. In spite of the prejudices, we still have a Mayawati and other women becoming formidable politicians. We have gay people ruling the fashion industry. So we needn't despair."
Shabana adds, "To say I'm ungrateful is simply not fair. I've always said I'm proud of Indian democracy.
Shatrughan Sinha is a very dear friend. I'd urge him to catch the interview on the Internet. He'd realise that I also said in the interview that the Indian Muslim is far safer than in other countries because he has a space in democracy. He can aspire to become the President of India, a Shah Rukh Khan or an Irfan Pathan."
Shabana says she is going to talk to Sinha soon. "I'm certain he has been misinformed. I love him to death. He's one of those rare people who'll do anything for a friend. A month ago, one of my staffer's child in Bihar was severely infected by jaundice. Shatrughan Sinha got the child's entire treatment done in Darbhanga. He saved the child's life."
Shabana recounts the problems she had getting a home for herself in Mumbai. "I spoke about it now because I read Saif Ali Khan's interview with you. Two years ago, it happened to me and I didn't bother. We were denied property apparently because we were non-vegetarians and because we were film folks. There were non-Muslim meat eaters and filmwallahs in the same locality. It's routine for Muslims to not get proper housing facility, so I didn't make any fuss about it. In fact, Zeenat Aman called and raised a hue and cry about being denied property, about Muslims not getting accommodation."
Adds Javed Akhtar, "I'm quite surprised that people are surprised about Muslims not getting accommodation. Twice, we tried to buy some property in the Juhu-Vile-Parle Scheme.
In my opinion, there isn't a single accommodation in that area belonging to a Muslim. That couldn't be just a coincidence, can it? In the 1970s, Amjad Khan's wife had to leave her house in Juhu and buy a place in Pali Hill. Yeh toh koi nayi baat nahin hai. Even in Delhi it exists. 25 years ago, veteran journalist Saeed Naqvi had to buy a home in Kuldip Nayar's name.
Let me reiterate that people within the film industry don't have to face discrimination. But it does exist outside. Let's not grow bitter about it. Let's be happy that most people in the country are rational."
