Just in: Actor Aamir Khan's first response to the continued circus around his comments on intolerance.

In an interview to CNN IBN's Rajeev Masand, Aamir clarifies, "I'm proud to be an Indian. India is my country. I love it and I'm staying here. I'm proud to be an Indian; I don't need anyone's endorsement for that. Neither Kiran nor I have any intention of leaving the country. People deliberately trying to distort what I said. I stand by everything I have said in my interview. We have to protect what we believe in. We have to protect this beautiful and unique country. People shouting obscenities are only proving my point. "

The actor on Monday joined the debate over "rising intolerance" in India, saying his wife Kiran Rao had asked if they should move out of the country, as she feared for the safety of their children in a climate of insecurity.

He was speaking at the Ramnath Goenka Awards function of The Indian Express Group on Monday. Khan said there was an increased sense of despondency over the past 6-8 months and that he was alarmed by it. Khan also backed writers and intellectuals who returned their awards following the Dadri lynching and the murder of rationalists.


See our 16:10 pm post for the complete transcript of what he said at the awards function.