Pakistani actor supports singer Shaan Mukherji after he faces flak for Eid post

Mumbai: Pakistani VJ and actress Anoushay Ashraf has come out in support of Bollywood singer Shaan Mukherji after he slammed users who trolled him over his Eid post.

Shaan received backlash after he wished his Instagram followers Eid Mubarak last week.

He was criticised for wishing people on Eid with a photo of himself wearing a white kurta and a skull cap. "Eid mubarak to you and your family”, he had posted on April 22.

A section of social media users criticised Shaan for his Eid post and said he should not have shared Eid wishes as he was Hindu.

The singer who is quite active on social media, then shared a video to explain his Eid post and urged people to show compassion and not attack people like him, who respect all religions.

Ashraf came out in support of Shaan and said she was 'sorry for the backlash' he received for his Eid wishes.

Sharing a news article about Shaan, she wrote on Twitter: "Dear Shaan, we can't wish Merry Christmas without getting hate too. It's how zealots keep the fear, power and authority over us."

She even remarked on the similarities between the two countries. "They interpret religion as a divider of people and we follow like blind sheep. Sorry for the backlash. Eid mubarak to every human. May artists always bring us closer," Ashraf wrote.

Shaan had explained in the video that his Eid greeting was designed as a 'sign of respect and tolerance' towards other religions, because both Hindus and Muslims were celebrating their respective holidays on the same day this year. "It was Eid, Parshuram Jayanti, and Akshay Tritya all in one day!" he said.

"I posted a screenshot from a music video I made three years ago, where I am reading namaaz, to wish my fans (on) Eid... I have come to Mangalore for an event, and I have been seeing the comments on it," Shaan had said in the clip.

He went on to say that 'this kind of radical thinking is dangerous' for India’s future. Shaan added India can never move forward as a progressive nation if we lack tolerance and respect for people.

The singer went on to call out people's hypocrisy, saying that he had previously posted photos of himself at the Golden Temple, where he covered his head as per Sikh customs and traditions, but he did not receive any backlash.

Earlier singers Sophie Choudry and Akriti Kakar had also supported Shaan after his Eid post was slammed by many.

With inputs from agencies