EXCLUSIVE: "Religious extremism in any religion, whether it's Islam, Christianity, Hinduism, will always damage society" - Kabir Khan

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Filmmaker Kabir Khan has openly talked about the Afghanistan crisis, the Taliban's takeover underpinned with religious extremism, and more. The filmmaker, in a recent conversation with Bollywood Hungama, talked about shooting in Afghanistan for his first feature film Kabul Express, his experience with the locals and Taliban, and the current conversation around religious extremism and how it damages society.

"I mean, that is something that I always believe in. I believe, and it's not about one religion, it's about any religious extremism in any religion will always damage society and we've seen that everywhere," Kabir Khan told Bollywood Hungama. "Yes, of course, I mean, people who would get to research if they just go and just google images from till as much as the mid-70s in Afghanistan, you'll know how the people lived there, what the society was there. It was one of the most popular destinations in those days. And from 79, when religious extremism crept into the society, we've seen what has happened since then they've never recovered. Now, it's come full circle; now the Taliban is back in power, and we don't know what will unfold in the months and the years to come. So yes, that is something I feel very strongly about.

He adds, "I think religious extremism and I say this it's not only about Islam because people tend to just keep repeating it in in Islam, but religious extremism in any religion, whether it's Islam, whether it's Christianity, whether it's Hinduism, will always damage society. Because there are these elements who will always take refuge and hide behind religion and do things which no religion, firstly, no religion can ever ask you have to kill people, beat up people, lynch people, no religion does that. So if people are doing that, it's using religion to politicize and to divide. And that can never be good for any society."

On the work front, Kabir Khan will helm Ranveer Singh starter 83. The film is based on India's World Cup win in 1983.

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