Akshay Kumar’s initiative to auction the naval uniform he wore in the film Rustom for charity faced a huge backlash. The actor has now addressed the issue and said he hadn’t done anything wrong.
Answering the questions of media at an event, where Akshay was present as the brand ambassador of New India Conclave, he said, “I support my wife on that matter. I and my wife are doing some work with good intention for a good cause. That was a costume that I used in the film. It is going for (for auction) a good cause. I do not think we have done anything wrong.”
The actor added, “If anyone finds it wrong then it is okay. I cannot do anything on that.”
Happy to launch the #NewIndiaConclave with Hon. CM @Dev_Fadnavis Ji ,a one of its kind platform to recognize rural achievers who have contributed to the society and nation-building through their work. Heard such inspiring stories. My best wishes to the team 👍🏻 pic.twitter.com/tmvVpfY7ng
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) May 1, 2018
The controversy sparked after Akshay Kumar tweeted about the auction on 26 April. He had written, “Hi all I’m thrilled to announce that you can bid to win the actual naval officer uniform I wore in Rustom! Auction’s proceeds will support the cause of animal rescue and welfare. Place your bid at http://www.SaltScout.com!”
Hi all 🙋🏻♂️ I’m thrilled to announce that you can bid to win the actual naval officer uniform I wore in Rustom! Auction’s proceeds will support the cause of animal rescue and welfare. Place your bid at https://t.co/6Qr0LRnTFm! pic.twitter.com/FF23tlogs1
— Akshay Kumar (@akshaykumar) April 26, 2018
Twinkle Khanna shared the same tweet and got a reply from ‘an enraged citizen’. In a post shared by Sandeep Unnithan, a journalist, there was a message for Twinkle, which read, “If you even make a feeble attempt to auction this piece of costume in the garb of ‘UNIFORM’ then I will drag you to the court. You touch our honour and we will give you a bloody nose.”
And this response to @mrsfunnybones ill advised idea to auction the Rustom costume comes from one of the finest men in uniform I know- Lt Col Sandeep Ahlawat. pic.twitter.com/lwDXuG0CLm
— Sandeep (@SandeepUnnithan) April 28, 2018
Actress-turned-author Twinkle Khanna responded to the trolls with a warning to take legal action against them. She posted another tweet that read, “As a society do we really think it’s all right to threaten a woman with bodily harm for trying to raise funds for a charity by auctioning a uniform used in a movie, a piece of film memorabilia? I will not retaliate with violent threats but by taking legal action!”
As a society do we really think it’s all right to threaten a woman with bodily harm for trying to raise funds for a charity by auctioning a uniform used in a movie,a piece of film memorabilia ? I will not retaliate with violent threats but by taking legal action! #JaiHind https://t.co/OF7e5lTHel
— Twinkle Khanna (@mrsfunnybones) April 29, 2018
While she was referring to the ‘bloody nose’ barb used in the post when she meant “bodily harm”, the dictionary meaning of the term, ‘giving a bloody nose’ is “to defeat something or someone”.
Rustom, starring Akshay Kumar, is a film based on popular Nanavati murder case. KM Nanavati, a naval officer murdered his wife’s lover after he found about his wife’s infidelity and then surrendered to the police.