Respect Kamal, Rajinikanth but doesn't mean I'll vote for them: Prakash Raj

Bengaluru: Noted actor Prakash Raj said on Sunday that he respects superstars Kamal Haasan, Rajinikanth and Kannada actor Upendra as artistes but that does not mean he would accept them as political leaders due to their fame.   

The 52-year-old actor told reporters at the Press Club that the political aspirants will have to prove their mettle before the people choose them as their representatives.  “I have respect for them as actors but that does not mean that I will vote for them. They have to demonstrate how much they understand our culture, the problems and how they will respond to it,” Raj said.   

Raj also alleged that his commercial advertisements were recently blocked from being aired. Without taking any names, he said the advertising firm told him his name has been mired in a controversy and so it could not be broadcast.

He said even Bollywood stars Shah Rukh Khan and Aamir Khan have faced similar situations in the past.  “Weren’t they removed from being ambassadors to certain  things? Weren’t some of their commercials stopped? They are stopping my commercials too. But I will not ask you why you  are hitting me. I will not tell you the way you are hitting me  is hurting me because that will make you stronger,” Raj said.   

The National Award-winning actor said the Internet trolls have been hitting at the thought process of the social media users since the last three years and dubbed it as a dangerous  trend.

Raj also referred to BJP MP Pratap Simha’s comments  against him after he criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi  over his “silence” on those “celebrating” the killing of  journalist Gauri Lankesh here in September.

Later, Raj took to Twitter to slam a section of the press  for misquoting him.   “This is what I said... Actors should not come into  politics only because they are popular. It’s a disaster. They  should come with a clear perception of the issues facing the  country and win the trust of the people. And we should not  vote as fans, but as responsible citizens,” he posted.