Naseeruddin Shah has recently taken a dig at actor Anupam Kher and called him a “clown”. Swaraj Kaushal, former Mizoram Governor and husband of BJP veteran Sushma Swaraj has come out in support of Kher and slammed Shah for his remarks.
In a series of tweets defending Anupam Kher, he also talked about his wife Kirron Kher. He wrote, “Anupam is an honest, upright and a self-made man. I saw Kirron on stage when she did “Desire under the Elms” in 1971. She was an ace Badminton player. I think she was India Champion. She is M.A (English literature) First Class First. So was her sister Kanwal Thakur Singh.”
He added in another tweet, ” She was definitely India Badminton Champion and M.A.(Political Science) First Class First. The family – Ohh ! what a family! Her father was a distinguished army officer. They were one of the illustrious and richest families of the City.”
Check out the post:
Anupam is an honest, upright and a self made man. I saw Kirron on stage when she did “Desire under the Elms” in 1971. She was an ace Badminton player. I think she was India Champion. She is M.A (English literature) First Class First. So was her sister Kanwal Thakur Singh.
— Governor Swaraj (@governorswaraj) January 22, 2020
She was definitely India Badminton Champion and M.A.(Political Science) First Class First. The family – Ohh ! what a family ! Her father was a distinguished army officer. They were one of the illustrious and richest families of the City.
— Governor Swaraj (@governorswaraj) January 22, 2020
Here’s the truth
But there’s a twist in the tale as the facts mentioned by Swaraj’s Kaushal were spotted by Shekhar Gupta, editor-in-chief of ThePrint.
He wrote in a tweet, “Purely sporting update: Kirron, then Kiran Thakar Singh, doesn’t hold a national badminton championship though she played at top levels, esp doubles with sister Kanwal. Kanwal became national champ upstaging Ami Ghia in 77-78. She also held the doubles crown with Ami.”
Check out the post:
Purely sporting update: Kirron, then Kiran Thakar Singh, doesn’t hold a national badminton championship though she played at top levels, esp doubles with sister Kanwal. Kanwal became national champ upstaging Ami Ghia in 77-78. She also held the doubles crown with Ami. https://t.co/EE0EYcohPT
— Shekhar Gupta (@ShekharGupta) January 23, 2020
For the uninitiated, in a recent interview to the media portal, Naseeruddin Shah, while discussing the current situation in the country in the backdrop of the protests against the controversial citizenship law and the lists, spoke of the support the government was receiving from the film industry.
As an example, he cited Anupam Kher. “Someone like Anupam Kher has been very vocal. I don’t think he needs to be taken seriously. He is a clown. Any number of his contemporaries from NSD and FTII can testify to his sycophantic nature. It is in his blood. He can’t help it,” Mr. Shah said.
Final Verdict
Kirron Kher is not India’s badminton champion.
