(Image source from: Kamal says)

Kamal Haasan is reacting strongly over those returning the awards citing ‘intolerance’ in India. The actor wondered what would be achieved from such acts saying that "even Mahatma Gandhi did not give back his law degree to protest against the British."

The actor stood firm on his stance and dismissed accuses of being "irresponsible and callous" for not giving away his award. The superstar who turned 61 on Saturday said that the return of awards is not a solution for the problem.

Haasan said, "Gandhiji stood against the British, his law degree was conferred by the English men, should he have given it back? What are you going to achieve by giving back awards?,"

"The honour given to me is not given by the government, it was given by the jury, I will not humiliate them," he said.

"If intolerance is growing, I am raising voice against it, this is that voice, I say this without any discrimination on party lines, this voice will raise whenever there is suspicion that our freedom will be taken away," Kamal said at one of his birthday functions.

Haasan won the National Award for best actor three times. He said, "I will raise voice if a suspicion arises that my right to freedom of speech and that of my friends and brothers will be infringed." He said that there is no need to include a political party for such purposes.

The Padma Bhushan-awardee said on the beef row, that, "if you do not like beef, don't eat, I was eating it, but now I have decided that I will not eat animals bigger than me. Don't give menu card to others," he said.

-Sumana