Akshay Kumar turned a light-hearted game show into a serious platform for social justice on ‘Wheel of Fortune India.’ The action hero passionately spoke out against the prejudice plaguing India’s Northeastern communities, insisting they deserve equal respect as fellow citizens.
The trigger was a contestant’s heartfelt account of the slurs and ridicule faced daily—labels like ‘Chinki’ or ‘Chinese’ hurled at people for their looks. Akshay’s expression turned somber as he absorbed the pain behind the words.
In a touching gesture, he summoned his longtime makeup artist Kin from Manipur. Kin detailed his struggles with casual discrimination in Mumbai’s bustling life, where he’s often sidelined as ‘foreign.’
‘Your words hit me hard today,’ Akshay admitted emotionally. He lambasted such behavior as antithetical to India’s multicultural ethos. ‘We can’t mock someone’s appearance under the guise of humor,’ he asserted.
Extending his message nationwide, Akshay highlighted the Northeast’s contributions: ‘From Naga soldiers in battles to heroes in Kargil and Bangladesh’s freedom struggle, they’ve proven their patriotism time and again. They are fully Indian.’
The segment has gone viral, igniting debates on national identity and unity. Celebrities and activists have rallied behind Akshay, hoping this moment inspires broader awareness and action against deep-seated biases.