Enigma of being a celebrity

The other day Amitabh Bachchan reminisced of his early days spent in Delhi winter – one what he described as a feature of ‘carefree life’. When asked about the place of original individuality in his very glamorous world, Karan Johar told us in an office gathering that it is already lost. Both of these responses from eminent bollywood personalities set me ponder on the enigma with which these people live – day in day out.

Be it cricketers, be it filmstars, be it other renowned personalities – the world knows them by what they do. For their popularity, only yardstick is probably their performance, delivery and product. Probably because it should be that ways, ideally! But then, the occupation of being a celebrity comes with an inherent hazard as Karan put it. There is one section of society who believes in criticizing the best of the works. There is a section called media who hovers around every possible inch of space in the life (personal as well as professional) of these celebrities. There is this self-inflicted image of being a celebrity which does not let them be their normal self after years of glory in public eyes.

Followers of Indian cricket would remember the incidence when stones were pelted at the house of our beloved cricketers’ homes after an early loss in World cup 2003. The same followers showered flowers during the spring of 2011 when the team – mostly comprising of same individuals – won them the world cup. Strange world – isn’t it? As a follower, as a fan, we tend to get emotional in a game when the chance of winning is 50% in each game for each team. Sachin Tendulkar said once in a pre-match interview that the other team also comes to play and with a mindset to win. No one likes the defeat.

Similarly, the filmstars slog hard to produce movies which are one of the best pastimes for us in India. Some of us may like it, some of us may not. Some of these movies may generate record breaking revenues; some can make the producers go bust. Our job should be limited to passing the judgment whether the movie was good or otherwise. But quite often, the good or bad work goes into the sentiments and nerves of the viewers and there emerges a strong liking or dislike for one particular personality on a personal level even without a single interaction. Constant criticism and media pressure gives way to an identity which in the first place is so superfluous.

Living with originality will be a tall order for them for they also have 24 hours to work with. It is widely said and believed that grass is greener on the other side. In the process, what is forgotten is that there are sides without grass too; there are sides where the grass is brown, dry and insipid. One may want to be a celebrity but there is a price for which it comes for. I would be rather contemplative and appreciative of what these celebrities go through and at the same time how they put up brave front to do things over and over again which offer a platform to rejoice, celebrate and entertain.