Saif Ali Khan Finally Breaks Silence On Taimur’s Name Controversy
Updated : January 17, 2017 11:53 AM IST
Last month, actors Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan were blessed with their first child. And obviously, the baby boy, named Taimur Ali Khan Pataudi, became somewhat of a trending topic. This led to a barrage of posts, jokes, trolls, messages, fake photos and even controversy.
Taimur which means iron/ strong, was incidentally also the name of a historic tyrant. And this lead to a somewhat of a hate campaign, with some groups on social media associating it with terrorism.
source: storypick
And now, as the dust of the incident has finally settled, father Saif Ali Khan opens about the baby.
On Social Media and the negative comments about him and his family.
“Social media just makes it clear what everybody is thinking in a sense. There is a lot of anonymity from the side of the people who are doing the talking so they feel free to say whatever they like, and sometimes they get very nasty…And that’s fine. It doesn’t mean that twenty, thirty or forty years ago people weren’t thinking similar things but maybe they did not have an outlet then.”
On the name Taimur.
“My wife and I love the sound of it and we love its meaning. I am aware of the heritage of the Turkish ruler—he was Timur, my son is Taimur, an ancient Persian name that means iron.”
source: storypick
On what has been son up to.
“He Scowls a lot, passes wind and yells so Kareena thinks he's a lot like me... a cranky, farty, yeller!"
On the state of our country.
“People talk about the country becoming right-wing and fascist, and we have all these fears…but the fact of the matter is that if you view the kind of unnecessary drama over Taimur, there were a lot of voices...I felt I didn’t have to say anything because a lot of people had spoken wisely and liberally. Voices that kind of vindicated my decision and made me feel that it’s absolutely fine.”
On the disclaimer he should have issued as the son was born.
“Perhaps, I Should have added a disclaimer as they do in the movies, that any resemblance to any person, living or dead is purely coincidental."
Well said, Saif!