New Delhi, Jun 7 (PTI): Bollywood superstar Aamir Khan today refused to apologise to the Indian Medical Association which has accused him of defaming the medical profession through his popular TV show "Satyamev Jayate" and said he is ready to face any legal action threatened by it.
"I am very comfortable if they (IMA) plan to take legal action if they feel that I have done something wrong. Of course, the courts are available for them. My answer is no, I will not be apologising," Aamir told NDTV.
The actor denied IMA's charge of defaming and insulting the medical profession."I deny that I have done that. I have the highest respect and regard for the medical profession," he said.
In an episode, aired on May 27, the 47-year-old actor highlighted the malpractices in the medical profession.
The IMA had demanded an immediate apology from Aamir and warned him of legal action if he failed to do so.
"Aamir Khan should apologise for having defamed and given one side of the story on medical profession. If he does not we are contemplating to take legal action against him for defaming and demoralising the medical profession in his TV show," IMA Secretary General Dr D R Rai had said.
Aamir, who has been focusing on social evils through the show, said his show is not against doctors or the medical profession.
"If the medical profession has been insulted and defamed by anybody, it is probably by those who are indulging in unethical practises," Aamir said.
Aamir said he had received two kinds of responses from the medical profession after the episode was aired. One was the kind of response that IMA has given while the other one has been "extremely positive" from doctors.
"I have received letters from various doctors saying that they are so happy when they saw the show that finally someone is talking about this because this is something they were upset about and did not know how to deal with," he said.
These doctors were unhappy about various "unethical practises" which were going on in the medical profession.
"They have actually thanked and congratulated me for having done what I did," he said.Aamir said that doctor K K Talwar, head of the Medical council of India (MCI), who was on the show, had written a letter to him which was very encouraging.
"I can imagine it would not have been easy for Dr Talwar to face the tough questions that I had for him on the show that day but he faced those questions and wrote the letter after the show was televised saying that he really liked it," the actor said.
Talwar said that everything would be done by the MCI to improve the situation. "A statement like this really encourages me because I feel he is someone in a position of power at this point of time. If he has a positive attitude towards bringing about change, then that is wonderful to hear and know," he said.
Aamir said he was aware that a few doctors were unhappy with him. It is upto the medical profession to take action to remove this disrepute that is faced by this noble profession.