Bollywood is a word that personifies more than the term 'entertainment' for this country. One might assume that this industry and the people who run it are merely producing content to generate profits and entertain the masses but a quick look at the myriad of dimensions which surround it, and you realise it is more than just a hood of good cinema. It is 2019, a year where the internet has reached every part of the planet (most of it at least), our superstars and filmmakers use the tool of social media very powerfully because like they say, with greater power, comes greater responsibility. This is exactly what got me thinking that what is exactly the extent of 'freedom of speech' exercised by our cinema stars and how we continue to fall for this delicious trap.

© Instagram

Marketing is a big investment when a project is helmed and actors are more than aware of it. Here are a few examples of how they casually seep into our 'fan' brains and win accolades and take home some major moolah in return. Supporting a certain cause, announcing a movie around a sensitive subject and then suddenly preaching all about it, going to every state university and malls (because the youth is a major target audience) and doing publicity for their movies are some basic things they do. Once the agenda is met, we see them don a different hat. A new cause to support, a new 'dream' to chase. Anyway, as long as the influence is not negative, we love watching them on-screen, we follow them on social media, we want to know who is wearing what, who is tweeting what and this perennial cycle goes on. However, when it comes to sensitive matters of national interest, there is an echoing silence in this A-lister clan and it is kind of surprising and also not surprising at the same time to me. As a media professional and a consumer of Bollywood, it saddens and upsets me to know that some of the biggest names in the country who can wish miss Priyanka Chopra for her wedding, who can wish our Modi Ji on his birthday, even wish team India during the World Cup, can actually afford to stay silent on sharing their opinion around something that is jolting, and affecting their own biggest target audience: the youth of this country. The ongoing protests across universities including AMU and Jamia Milia and the bloody aftermath of it is not hidden from anyone, even if they claim they're living under a rock. The CAA is picking on the communal thread of this nation and while the older generation sulks over it, the future of this country is asking some basic questions and demanding support, which is being met with a thunderous silence by the government and India's biggest industry, Bollywood. 

Attack on the students of #Jamia & AMU is the culmination of state terrorism.
I strongly condemn fascist BJP government! It's not just students who are being attacked; Great democracy.

Let fascism fall! Let the people's revolution erupt!

We will stand with the students! pic.twitter.com/RMFDlnSg5n

— à®à¯à®®à®¾à®©à¯ (@SeemanOfficial) December 16, 2019

"What do I study now? What is left?"

Law student from Jamia breaks down.

Enough is enough.

A country that attacks it's children has no future. #Jamia https://t.co/HBzYuUCzwT

— Srinivas B V (@srinivasiyc) December 16, 2019

Now, if you tell me, that it doesn't matter what an actor or an actress says or supports, and that's not really a problem, then please bear with me as I explain how it is twitching a nerve. Not long ago, a beautiful selfie surfaced on the internet, with some of the biggest names in the industry flying on a private jet, coming down to Delhi to meet our honourable PM and some of the great names in Indian politics. Everyone waxed eloquence on each other's work, talking about our country being in safe hands, etc. But now the dangerous silence that reeks off from this picture just saddens me as someone who wants to believe in the power of a social media influencer.

© Instagram

Not a single word uttered, not a single tweet made, no Instagram post, nothing. If people buy a particular shoe or drink a particular brand of coffee because their favourite celebrity endorses it, imagine the amount of positive influence our beloved stars can manifest if they simply address it openly. Too much to ask? Well, my thoughts echo with a few people and when actress Sayani Gupta pointed it out today, some celebs did start talking about it eventually. 

On behalf of the students of Jamia & AMU request at least one of you to tweet or message Mr.Modi condemning this act of police brutality and violence against students. The time has come to speak up guys. Yes? No? May be?@RanveerOfficial @karanjohar @ayushmannk @RajkummarRao pic.twitter.com/6l5ky5zbNt

— Sayani Gupta (@sayanigupta) December 15, 2019

@ayushmannk educated the country about Article 15, @RanveerOfficial represented a Murad, @aliaa08 pulled off a spy for her country and @RajkummarRao played the lawyer Shahid Azmi.
Well, they should change it to "yeh sabhi paatra aur kalaakar, dono hi kaalpanik hai"

— CAB is anti-democratic. ð (@naughty_ghaati) December 15, 2019

Thank you @sayanigupta

This call to the Consciousness of Humanity will go a long way in expressing solidarity with our students and strengthen our resolve to safeguard the inclusive aspect of our Constitution

Long Live An Inclusive Secular Democratic India

— Professional Sevak (@Prof_Sevak) December 16, 2019

Some actors who proved they are a responsible Indian before acting like they are 'too busy for social media' include Vikrant Massey, Swara Bhasker and Siddharth, amongst the few people from this industry.

These two are not Krishna and Arjuna. They are Shakuni and Duryodhana.
Stop attacking #universities! Stop assaulting #students! #JamiaMilia #JamiaProtest

— Siddharth (@Actor_Siddharth) December 16, 2019

Shocking messages of violence, tear gassing from #Jamia in #Delhi ! Why are students being treated like criminals? Why are hostels being tear gassed.. ??? What is going on #DelhiPolice ???? Shocking and shameful! #CABProtests

— Swara Bhasker (@ReallySwara) December 15, 2019

This is a picture of students from #JamiaMilia holding photos of #Ambedkar & #Gandhi opposing the #CAA2019

We haven't forgotten our roots.

And we will fight to regain the lost sanity of this proud country ð®ð³ #StandWithJamia #Delhiviolence pic.twitter.com/gOCh0B7Cnw

— Vikrant Massey (@masseysahib) December 15, 2019

The stark reality, which you, as a fan of a certain actor, needs to remind yourself is that our favourites will play strong characters in reel life, but turns out that in real life, heroes are not found on the screen but are found fighting for what is right and making himself/herself heard screaming the truth, on a street around you.

So while we should continue enjoying a good film and lauding great performances, let's just draw the curtains on the expectations that an industry which drives up budgets for marketing to acquire validation from fans will conveniently turn off their internet and live in their own bubble of 'acche din' as their young fans endure the wrath of a situation. They definitely speak up for what matters to them, and there have been times when Bollywood has come forward in solidarity for issues. But looks like, this one time, it's not that bothersome. Well, the CAA had caught the attention of the United Nations but looks like Bollywood is running on a different time zone. So if I do ask our favourite influencers, 'how's the josh?', the answer will be 'not very high sir'.

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