Actor
Saif Ali Khan has urged people of the country to vote and said that not voting
should not be an option as people of the country can make a positive change by
exercising their right of voting. Asked if he thinks elections unite the
country, at a panel discussion here on Tuesday during the launch of the
#UnitedByVote Campaign, Saif said: "Yes... the act of voting in the
largest democracy in the world is obviously a very unifying thing. Voting is the
most important thing that you can do as a citizen of this country. "Young
people notoriously do not vote and I think that is the reason we have been
brought here today is to speak at this forum to try and influence and point out
the importance of that vote," he said.
"Living
in a democracy, that voice you have and that importance you have to effect
change is the most important thing. I think that unity and that awareness of
that democracy is why we are here," added Saif. The Baazaar actor said not
voting should not be an option. "Every vote is important and I think not
voting should not be an option. You can really affect positive change and I
think one of the things that any government or any leader should fear and be
really aware of is the power of unity, of union, in this country," he
said. Citing an example, Saif said: "Like if you get a student union body
together to decide and discuss and decide you can vote one way or not,
suddenly, you become really important to these guys and they will fear you so,
we should use that and look after the country that we live in."
Can the youth help in India's progress?
"It's also about mindsets. I did a film on that also, where you, kind of,
had to follow a certain career path many years ago. Following certain things
was not an option. Frankly, even becoming an actor was not always the
attractive option for certain people in families..." He says "today,
the idea is to find the passion, and to kind of use that to effect whatever
positive change that you can bring in your universe and your sphere." The
48-year old star said that in an election season, it is important to do a fair
amount of reading and research before voting. He added: "You have to
realise when someone is pro-government or unnecessarily against the government.
There
are certain publications and websites which speak the truth, so read from all
angles." On the work front, Saif will next be seen in the second season of
"Sacred Games" followed by "Taanaji: The Unsung Warrior".
After all these are the people who are being the ideals of the youth and they
are playing there part of motivating people and urging them to go and vote. At
the end , only are the one who could make and break the nation, and voting is
the one way through which we can choose what we want.
