Veteran actor Naseeruddin Shah recently stirred a controversy with his views on the rising mob violence in the country. While the actor has been facing backlash ever since, Ashutosh Rana on Sunday expressed solidarity with his Bollywood senior and said, "Everyone has the right to share his/her views. If someone speaks his mind in the country, does that mean there should be a social trial?"

He further added, "If any of our brother or friend is saying something, we should not only listen to them but must also ponder over it. Independence stands for simplicity and gentleness and that is what our culture is."

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[caption id="attachment_12741" align="aligncenter" width="700"] File photo of Naseeruddin Shah[/caption]

For the unversed, the 68-year old actor in his apparent reference to Bulandshahr violence, told in an interview with non-profit Karwan-e-Mohabbat last week that there were places in the country where the death of a cow is given more importance than that of a policeman. "I feel anxious for my children because tomorrow if a mob surrounds them and asks, 'Are you a Hindu or a Muslim?' they will have no answer. It worries me that I don't see the situation improving anytime soon," he had said.

Soon after his statement, he was slammed by several right wing groups and was asked to leave the country. Naseeruddin, on the other hand, said that he finds it strange that something he voiced as a "worried Indian" has caused a hullabaloo.