actor: Naseeruddin Shahold review by: Anupam Kher resurfaced online after Kher’s recent comments on the reported theft of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple sparked a debate. A clip from Shah’s 2020 interview has also been widely shared, with the veteran actor calling Kher a “clown” while speaking about his political views.The years-old video started trending after Kher, in an interview with India Today, dismissed the reported looting of the Ram Temple as a “very small issue” and compared it to the large-scale destruction and looting of temples during the Mughal era. While his remarks drew attention, social media users hit back at Shah’s earlier comments about the actor.During the 2020 interview, Shah was asked about members of the film industry who criticized what they considered discriminatory politics and policies or openly supported the government. In response to the question, he said, “There are fewer than those who oppose it.”Talking about Kher, Shah added, “A person like Anupam Kher has a very loud voice. I don’t think he should be taken seriously. He is a clown. Any number of his contemporaries from NSD and FTII can attest to his sycophantic nature. It is in his blood. He cannot control it.”Kher responded to Shah’s remarks at the time by sharing a video message on X, accusing the veteran actor of constantly targeting people from the film industry.“Although I have never said anything bad about you but now I will. You have spent your whole life in disappointment, despite achieving so much. If you can criticize Dilip Kumar: sahab, Amitabh Bachchan, Rajesh Khanna, Shah Rukh Khan and Virat Kohli:then I’m sure I’m in good company,” said Kher.He added, “None of them take your statements seriously, because we all know that because of the substances you have taken all these years, you do not realize the difference between what is right and what is wrong.” The controversy resurfaced after Kher was asked by India Today about the reported theft of donations at the Ayodhya Ram Temple. The actor argued that the incident should be seen in the context of the historical destruction and looting of temples.He said, “Temples were looted when the Mughals destroyed our temples. When Brahmins were killed, when the wealth of our temples was looted, when women were raped inside the temple. It was a greater tragedy. If we can overcome that pain, then it is a very small thing. “Expanding on his words, Kher added, “People are making a big issue of it. They say there is temple theft… such words are used. Temples were looted when the Mughals destroyed our temples. Temples were looted when the Mughal rulers killed Brahmins and collected and weighed their sacred poisons. The temples were looted when the Mughal emperors came here and took the valuables from every temple. Temples were looted when women were raped inside the temple. It was a greater tragedy. If we can overcome that, then this theft issue will be a minor thing.”On the work front, Kher will next be seen in ‘Shri Ram Bhoomi’, directed by Kamakhya Narayan Singh, who recently helmed ‘The Kerala: Story 2′. The film also stars Ritwik Bhowmik and: Amruta Khanvilkarand made by: Anuya Chauhan KudechaRitesh Kudecha, Umesh Kumar Bansal, Raedita, Akash Shah, Pranay Chokshi, Kalapi Shah, Kranti Shanbhag, Girish Johar and Meet Mojo. He also has ‘Khosla Ka Ghosla 2’ in the pipeline.