Tuesday,
August
14,
2007
Despite
60
years
of
freedom
from
British
rule,
we
Indians
still
face
problems
that
thwart
us
from
feeling
proud
of
our
nationality.
Gradually,
some
of
these
challenges
have
even
changed
the
meaning
of
Independence
for
us.
Some
eminent
people
of
tinsel
town
spoke
to
us
about
what
Independence
means
to
them.
Pooja
Bhatt
(Actress,
producer,
director)
I
do
not
celebrate
our
Independence
on
August
15
or
January
26.
All
the
365
days
of
the
year
are
days
of
Independence
for
me.
In
fact,
we
Indians
are
not
independent
in
the
real
sense.
And
most
of
our
failures
come
from
the
habit
of
not
sharing
each
other's
problems.
If
we
find
anybody
in
trouble,
we
stay
away
and
watch
from
a
distance.
We
do
not
bother
until
and
unless
our
own
family,
friends
or
relatives
are
involved.
Is
this
what
we
call
Independence?
Till
there
is
no
change
in
Indians
in
this
regard,
Independence
is
quite
meaningless
to
me.
Firoz
Abbas
Khan
(Director):
What
does
Independence
mean
to
me?
It's
really
a
tough
question.
Independence
is
responsible
for
whatever
we
are
today.
Only
a
confined
person
can
understand
the
true
worth
of
independence.
Although
we
are
going
to
celebrate
the
60th
year
of
Independence,
there
still
are
some
hurdles
that
restrain
us
from
becoming
free
Indians.
One
big
issue
is
that
most
Indians
are
still
deprived
of
social
and
economical
freedom.
Till
we
get
rid
of
these
obstacles,
Independence
will
remain
incomplete
for
us.
Manoj
Bajpayee
(Actor):
For
me,
Independence
gets
implemented
only
when
the
citizen
gets
the
freedom
of
thought
and
expression.
To
me,
that
is
the
gist
of
Independence
and
I
believe
only
in
it.
Rituparna
Sengupta
(Actress):
Independence
Day
is
a
symbol
of
our
strength
and
pride,
earned
after
the
sacrifice
of
several
lives.
Obeying
the
Independence
means
honouring
those
immortal
people.
Life
is
so
fast-paced
these
days
that
we
don't
remember
these
heroes
every
day.
On
August
15
and
January
26,
we
get
the
opportunity
to
pay
homage
to
our
leaders
and
pioneers.
Sunny
Deol
(Actor):
We
were
not
present
when
India
got
her
independence.
Hence,
we
would
not
be
able
to
understand
its
real
value
now.
Back
then,
our
freedom
fighters
had
to
fight
for
it.
Now,
we
take
it
for
granted.
We
are
in
the
60th
year
of
our
Independence,
but
frankly
speaking,
we
are
not
yet
independent.
We
are
living
with
a
"this
is
how
it
happens" outlook.
Helping
somebody
is
considered
another
way
of
accepting
problems.
Till
we
understand
the
meaning
of
unity
and
share
each-other's
problems,
we
won't
get
real
Independence.
Shefali
Shah
(Actress):
Independence
is
our
basic
need.
Today,
it's
impossible
to
think
of
a
life
without
freedom.
That's
why
our
freedom
fighters
fought
so
hard
to
get
our
birth
right.
To
me,
freedom
of
thought
and
expression
is
much
more
important
than
physical
freedom.
Freedom
of
thought
allows
freedom
of
dreaming.
And
only
when
we
dream,
will
we
try
to
fulfill
them.
We
are
still
dealing
with
problems
like
corruption,
dowry
and
foeticide
in
our
society.
Alhough
these
are
not
happening
in
every
home,
the
exceptions
are
numerous
enough
to
thwart
the
development
of
our
country.
Sonali
Kulkarni
(Actress):
Independence
is
as
important
as
breathing.
At
the
same
time,
it's
necessary
to
continue
struggling
to
enjoy
freedom.
Although
we
have
been
independent
for
60
years
now,
we
are
still
facing
social
problems,
unemployment
being
the
worst,
because
it's
directly
connected
to
one's
disposable
income.
It's
shocking
that
though
we
have
enough
jobs
for
the
entire
population,
but
still
all
of
us
can't
find
suitable
work.
The
potential
of
our
human
resources
is
immense,
but
it
is
not
utilized
properly.
As
a
result,
neither
is
work
being
done
efficiently,
nor
are
people
getting
work.
With
strong
view
on
corruption,
poverty,
unemployment,
foeticide
and
Indian
Independence,
these
stars
of
Bollywood
seem
to
have
their
feet
very
much
on
the
Indian
soil.
Instead
of
being
immersed
in
their
blessed
lifestyle,
they
think
about
the
problems
of
the
nation.
But
problems
must
not
weigh
us
down
completely.
For
every
nation
has
its
own
set
of
challenges,
progress
can
be
made
by
finding
solutions
to
them.
Once
we
Indians
unite
and
set
our
minds
to
it,
the
ending
is
bound
to
be
happy
as
are
most
of
our
Bollywood
films.