What connects the likes of Vidya Balan, Taapsee Pannu, Kirti Kulhari, and Rakul Preet Singh? These are some of the names that pop up when the simple Google search ‘We are public figures not public property’ is made. Why did they make such a statement? It was a stance they took to assert their privacy, their safety, and their space. Something similar happened recently in Tamil cinema when actor Priyanka Mohan took a stand for herself at a recent public event. When a person approached her for a selfie, she reprimanded him for stalking her for a couple of days now, and advised him to not follow anyone unnecessarily. While Priyanka did relent for the selfie with a smile to boot, she clearly expressed her discomfort, and was forced to put up a facade of a smile to give this fan what he wanted. In any other situation, voices of support would have come for Priyanka, but cinema is a space where dizzying heights and debilitating depths are decided every Friday.
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In a cinema-crazy world that adores stars like they are friends, family, sometimes, even gods, is this understanding possible among everyone? It also begs a more pertinent question — What if this adulation enters the world of obsession? We have seen enough real-life cases and reel-life movies to understand that obsession has the chance to end up badly. Of course, not every person clamouring for a photo is your average stalker, but in such cases, isn’t offence the best form of defence? This, unfortunately, does mean that a lot of people who don’t harbour such thoughts would be categorised as one. But we would understand this predicament if it happens in a crowded bus, right? We would empathize if this incident happened in any other public space with any other person, right? But many assume ownership of their matinee idols. Many operate in the mindspace that ‘I am your fan, you owe me your time.’ Shah Rukh Khan made an entire film about it. But nevertheless, it is getting increasingly important to bell this cat, especially in the times of smartphones.
But in a cinema-crazy world that has no qualms in instantly bringing down stars from the pedestal, can celebrities risk the chance of offending them? One might argue it is important to stand one’s ground. One might argue it is important to let fans know that being a fan doesn’t give absolute rights over the person they are fawning over. But look at what is happening with Priyanka Mohan. The video doing the rounds about her asking the fan to not stalk her was preceded by another video where some people were cramping up her for space when she was trying to enter her car. She was swarmed by people, who were extending their hands into the car to get a photo with her. Instinctively, she asked if they would like to enter the car also for the photo. Once again, after saying what she said, Priyanka did take a photo with them. But she ‘crossed a line’. All hell broke loose.
Priyanka was then the target of trolling. Of course, being critical of an actor’s acting skills is par for the course. But the difference here was obvious. The trolling was now erring on the side of bullying. There were comparisons made with other actors who were ‘humble’ and ‘kind’ to take selfies with their fans. While some rightfully admonished the type of fan culture that almost borders on servitude, many just insulted Priyanka’s choice to respect her own space. Again, her art is open for criticism. One can criticise her acting and call it good, bad, or whatever. One can criticise her dancing and call it good, bad, or whatever. But calling her a bad person for expressing her concern about her own safety is not something that can be up for debate. And using this incident to completely write off her efforts in cinema is plain wrong.
Take, for instance, the ‘thug life’ interviews of actor Nikhila Vimal. Of course, she received a lot of appreciation for not playing into the hands of sections of the media wanting to ‘dumb her down’. But there were people who felt Nikhila needed to be shown her place simply because she spoke her mind. Whenever any actor, especially women, speak their mind or don’t toe the line expected out of them in interviews and other events, they are called ‘high-handed’ or ‘irritating’ or simply ‘so much attitude’. It is also important to understand that these responses are not their go-to reactions. It is the proverbial straw that broke the camel’s back. It is a culmination of postponed reactions, and silenced responses.
A few years back, we also saw what happened with actors Ajith Kumar and Sivakumar who snapped at people who propped up their phones to take selfies without the permission of these stars. Of course, they received a lot of backlash, but they also received support. On that front, it is heartening to note that there were multiple voices that came in support of Priyanka Mohan and Nikhila Vimal too. They argued that these women’s call for a safe space shouldn’t be dismissed because they were public figures. Safe space is everyone’s right, they argued. And rightfully so.
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But in a cinema-crazy world like ours, there is only so much nuance that can enter these debates. It just gets worse on social media. Here, everyone is baying for blood. Will things change if these actors are not put on a pedestal? It is not like they asked for it anyway. Why prop them up to be disappointed later? When they are treated like gods, they are expected to answer the beck and call of their devotees. When they are treated like matinee idols, they are expected to be picture perfect. Actors are expected to be at the best of their behaviours at any moment of time. Of course, there are outliers who are considered ‘bad boys’ and ‘bad girls’ but for the rest, there is no space to show any kind of negative emotions.
Imagine asking them to curb their natural instinct every single moment they are in front of a camera. Of course, that is exactly what acting is all about, but you get the difference, right? Is it okay to force someone to curb their natural instinct just because you have high expectations? Can you do it? Can I do it? But more importantly, why should they act like what we want them to in real life? Because they get paid with the money we pay to watch their films? But isn’t that transactional relationship complete when we have watched that said film? However, from the celebrity’s point of view… is losing this facade or setting aside their stoicism worth it?
Be a fan, not a fanatic, they say… but the lines are fast blurring. Nothing is sacrosanct. No space is sacrosanct. Nobody is sacrosanct. But yeah, in a cinema-crazy world like ours where anything can happen anytime, all it means is…
Priyanka, and many others, it is not time to give up.
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