Actor Randeep Hooda, who believes that intolerance was always there in the country, albeit in isolation, on Wednesday said the ongoing controversy on the issue was being "sensationalised" and "politicised".

"It's always been there... in isolated incidents... But because there is much more reportage, it's in the foreground now.

"It's sad that people are trying to get mileage out of it and media is sensationalising it. I don't think it should be sensationalised because it encourages more (intolerance)," Randeep told the media here.

The actor was in the city to celebrate the success of "Main Aur Charles", in which he portrays real-life notorious serial killer Charles Sobhraj.

Asked to comment on the controversy, the "Highway" actor criticised politicians for using the issue as a plank in elections.

"They are being highly politicised by politicians to score brownie points from voters. I don't think they really care. The same government which was in power for 60 years is criticising it," he added.

A host of well-known writers, filmmakers, scientists and historians have announced the return of awards and honours as a mark of protest against recent events like the lynching of a Muslim man in Dadri of Uttar Pradesh over rumours that he had consumed beef, the murder of Kannada rationalist scholar M.M. Kalburgi, and the police "raid" in Delhi's Kerala House.

Recently, superstar Shah Rukh Khan's comments on "extreme intolerance in India" has come under attack by Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Sadhvi Prachi who branded him as a "Pakistani agent".