Kerala film personalities bat for SRK

Thiruvananthapuram: Malayalam film director B. Unnikrishnan and ace comedian Jagdish on Wednesday supported Shah Rukh Khan in the row over his comment on growing intolerance in the country and BJP MP Yogi Adityanath's statement comparing the Bollywood superstar with Pakistani terrorist Hafiz Saeed.

Comedian Jagdish said this sort of "fascist outlook" should be rejected outright.

"I know the actor quite well as I was fortunate to act along with him in one film and he is a truly secular person in all respects," said the actor.

Unnikrishnan said Shah Rukh took a stand with no ulterior motives and the BJP should ensure that such things are kept out.

Meanwhile, state Congress president V.M. Sudheeran said appropriate action should be taken against the BJP leader for his comment.

"It's most unfortunate that such statements have been made against Shah Rukh Khan, considered to be a hugely popular personality in the cultural space of our country," said Sudheeran.

Adityanath said in Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh that both Shah Rukh and Saeed -- the mastermind of the 2008 Mumbai terror attack -- speak the same language.

Shah Rukh had said earlier that there "is intolerance (in India), there is extreme intolerance ... there is growing intolerance".