Why India Doesn’t Like Bollywood Being Silent

We recently saw the biggies of the Hindi film industry (lovingly called ‘Bollywood’) speak up for it. They filed a legal case against some news channels for defamation, among other things.

I read up some opinion pieces on this development. Most of them complimented the industry for ‘finally’ standing up against its vilification. But an article on ‘The Print’ also criticized Bollywood. The criticism was for only acting when the time came for ‘self-preservation’. And not bothering to speak up about other issues.

This was reminiscent of a trend on social media during the last few months. To be precise- during the campaign for ‘justice’ being run for Late Sushant Singh Rajput. I had seen posts against film personalities who did not post condolence messages on his death. Or didn’t demand ‘justice’ for the ‘murdered’ actor. Or didn’t oppose the demolishing of Kangana Ranaut’s office by the Maharashtra Government. I also had seen an article complaining that A-listers of Bollywood didn’t support Rhea Chakraborty. And didn’t oppose Kangana’s hate speech.

Why the need for Bollywood to speak up?

It baffles me that we expect our film personalities to have an opinion on everything and state it. The expectation is not so high for any sports or TV celebrities. Is it because cinema is a powerful medium? So much that we cannot stop imagining film actors in the conscientious roles they play? The activist college student, the honest cop, the valiant army officer? Is this why we expect them to be outspoken leaders in real lives too?

To my mind, that should not be the case anymore. Gone are those times when movie parts played by actors used to define their public images. With social and news media now, we see enough and more of these actors outside films too.

Actors are in the profession to entertain. For some of them, cinema is also their business. Sure, it is also a medium of expression for a few of the actors/filmmakers. In fact, it is their chosen medium to communicate with the masses. Then why do we also want them to express their personal opinions on TV or social media? Why do we want them to behave like politicians or activists?

And ironically, the actors who do have political opinions are not the ones asked to share them. Raj Babbar, Shatrughan Sinha, and Sunny Deol have joined one political party or the other. But they are not hounded online for their views on what needs to be changed in the context of Sushant’s death. Instead, we want people like Shahrukh Khan, Aamir Khan, or Deepika Padukone to ‘speak up’ about it.

Who needs Bollywood to speak up?

I have certain theories about how this need arises. Or who creates it.

Is it the media?

Is this demand originating from the media? Because the current fame of a Deepika Padukone helps media sell more news than a Raj Babbar or a Sunny Deol? The former is certainly a more popular actor. She also has more followers among the country’s youth.

In fact, let me share the honest reason I thought of writing this piece in the first place. It is that my posts on Kangana Ranaut and Deepika Padukone found more readers than any other post of mine! Need I explain their outreach more?

The politicians?

Or is it because politicians need support from these actors to push their agenda further? We regularly see Bollywood celebrities act as ambassadors for public campaigns. For instance, Swacch Bharat, Fit India, Gujarat tourism, and polio eradication. We have seen Salman Khan flying kites with PM Modi. And many others clicking selfies with PM Modi. Politicians don’t even seem to mind communal statements from celebrities. Provided they take the same line as theirs, a la Kangana Ranaut.

But it’s not the same for actors who express an opinion contrary to the popular politician’s ideology. Remember the furore over Padukone’s visit to JNU? Or over Aamir Khan’s comments on growing intolerance in the country? Ironically again, the same actors are flogged when they do not want to talk about other issues. Bollywood has limited freedom of speech, and no right to silence.

Or the public wants Bollywood to speak up?

Is it that the general public is bored with the same old leaders, activists, and politicians? The post-social media world is all about visuals. Maybe that’s why we want some style and glamour of Bollywood thrown into everything. Including the politics of our country.

Aren’t the trademark Modi jackets and Modi kurtas a part of PM Modi’s popularity? Other leaders don’t seem to be catching on to the style bandwagon the way he has. So the public is now pushing the original style icons of Bollywood only to act as leaders too?

We all love Bollywood, don’t we?

Fact is that I am not sure which is the correct answer among my hypotheses above.

Anyhow, the takeaway for me is that India is fascinated with Bollywood! The people of Bollywood represent fame, riches, or lifestyle we would love to have for our own selves. So we watch them incessantly.

I’m making no value judgment here. I’m a star-struck fan myself. We all watch Bollywood from our unique vantage points.

And at the same time, we all feel entitled to some part of the popularity of Bollywood, in one way or the other. ‘We made them what they are’, you see.

I do hope that I don’t end up abusing my ‘entitlement’. And that to get more people to read my articles, I do not start peddling Bollywood in the ways I’ve hated to see others do.