Rajkumar Hirani, who has directed two blockbusters with Aamir Khan as the leading man - 3 Idiots (2009) and PK (2014) - was in Calcutta on Saturday and spoke to The Telegraph on the controversy surrounding the actor's statements on "intolerance".

He (Aamir) was sitting and talking at an awards function. There were various questions that were directed at him. He expressed something and if people choose to pick only that up and highlight it, then that's wrong. #I have watched that clip several times. He put his hand on his chest and said that he's "distressed" about it... he's upset about the fact that a thought like this (about leaving the country) could even cross Kiran's (Rao, wife) mind. He's not saying 'I am going away'. But the way it's being projected all across... especially in social media... I have seen so many messages filled with venom against him on social media (shakes his head)... is that he wants to leave his country.

And then, what's worse is that it's being connected to his religion. Is that correct? It's so, so wrong. This is a guy who has been born and brought up in India... he's been completely honest to this country and there's so much honesty in his work. Who would spend two years of their lives just dedicated to a social issues show like Satyameva Jayate? He did that and during that time, he didn't sign on a single endorsement. How can the country go hammer and tongs against a man like him?

Somewhere, we all need to exercise a little more responsibility... a little more understanding of what a person is trying to say and not try and misconstrue it. Look at what people are saying now... 'Go back to Pakistan'... there are rewards being promised to whoever slaps him (shakes his head)... it's shameful. Can't a person have a point of view? Our Constitution talks about freedom of speech. He's got a right to say what he feels. This reaction towards him is completely irrational.