On March 16, Mumbai Mirror’s front page story featured Hrithik Roshan claiming that Kangana Ranaut has “Asperger’s Syndrome which makes her imagine things”.
One reader left this comment on the story, and it promptly went viral:
BuzzFeed India spoke to the writer of the comment, Kavita Lobo, mother of a 9-year-old with Asperger's. She said:
Bollywood, or any media, helps in general to spread awareness. Whilst we celebrate the medium for its power, it is significantly important to disseminate correct information.
Shah Rukh Khan's representation in My Name Is Khan didn't highlight Asperger's attributes distinctly, but it is good to watch national heroes portray these characters. Taare Zameen Par spoke about dyslexia, and I'm positive that till then, most Indians were unaware of learning disabilities.
"My son was seven years old when we diagnosed. I decided to roll up my sleeves and facilitate with all the help he requires for healthy functioning. My son is a happy child and that is what matters the most," Lobo told BuzzFeed.
"I wanted to speak about loosely quoting Asperger’s Syndrome," Lobo told BuzzFeed. "I do hope newspapers like Mumbai Mirror are able to communicate to our dear celebrities not to make non-referential statements."
