Mumbai: Bollywood actor Aamir Khan on Monday claimed he was misunderstood over his intolerance remark and said he is a patriotic person who would not think of leaving the country.
"I don't want to leave the country. I was born in this country and will die here too," he said at a press conference in Mumbai on the eve of his 2006 superhit 'Rang De Basanti' completing ten years.
"Some people have understood me while some are upset me. Once and for all I want to clarify that I will live here and die here. If people have been hurt by my remarks then I think they felt bad because they were misinformed," the Bollywood actor said while adding that he never said that Indian is intolerant.
Asserting that no other country is as diverse as India, Aamir, 50, said, "I was born here and I will die here."
Aamir's comments came on a day he came under fresh attack from fellow actor Akshay Kumar who said "ups and downs" happen in every nation and one should not start giving "bold" statements.
"I never said India was intolerant or I wanted to leave the country. I also understand the emotions of those who were hurt. I would like to say that my statement was misunderstood and to some extent media is responsible for it. I was born here and I will die here," he said.
"Our country is diverse with so many languages, culture...no other country has so much diversity as India," he said, adding, "Whenever I go abroad I can't stay away from my country more than two weeks. I get homesick".
Aamir's statement last November that he was "alarmed" by a number of incidents and that his wife Kiran Rao even suggested that they should probably leave the country had triggered a nationwide outrage.
Shortly after the controversial comment he was replaced as the brand ambassador of 'Incredible India' campaign.
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