NOTHING DRAMATIC: BOLLYWOOD BUSINESS SCRIPTS A SAD TALE!
Compiled by Swati Chaturvedi
Singer Bhoomi Trivedi is “shocked and stunned” to see that her police complaint about people impersonating her on Instagram, has ended up revealing the ethically questionable practice of artistes buying fake likes and fake followers on social media.
“My one step has become so big. I am blank right now. But I am thankful to the Mumbai Police and whatever it is that they are doing,” says Trivedi.
For the uninitiated, last month Trivedi filed a complaint with Mumbai Police about a “a few people” who were “impersonating” her on Instagram, asking artistes “such as DJS, actors, dancers and choreographers” to pay them to get Instagram’s blue tick verification for their
Since March-end, there has been no drama or action, quite literally, in cinema halls across the country. And though states are in unlock mode, the film exhibition sector still hasn’t got a go-ahead. Feeling the financial pinch, now theatre owners/exhibitors want the governments to lend them a helping hand by cutting various levies such as the Goods and Services Tax (GST), entertainment tax and property tax.
“We don’t need to shout from the respective social media profiles. “Within a few days the cops identified the culprits. They told the cops they work for agencies which get fake followers and likes for artistes. My case was different,” she says. “I used to get a lot of messages from people asking me if I had indeed paid them to get a blue tick. It became like a job, that I am telling people it’s fake. That’s when I decided to go to the police,” she adds.
And while the singer admits the practice of getting followers and likes in the industry is quite common, she says she has never opted to for public consumption, and not what I do privately.”
Currently shooting for a web series, the Uttaran actor is excited about her role as it is “interesting” and “unlike a daily soap”. She adds, “One can take on different web shows in a year, as the shoots wrap up in a month or two. As an actor, one gets the chance to experiment with roles. OTT [platforms] are really exciting.”
“Happy to be back on the sets, working”, Dattaaa, 33, spent her lockdown period in rooftops that the cinema [exhibition] sector has been badly hit. At this point, we would appreciate some assistance. To start with, the government can reduce or halve the GST for some time at least. If I need to open the theatre, it has to be viable for me. Otherwise, I am ready to keep it shut for another two to three months,” says Suman Sinha, the owner of Patnabased Regent Cinema.
This year, only a handful of Hindi films such as Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, Baaghi 3, Shubh Mangal Zyaada buy likes to showcase the popularity of her work. “I have received offers of getting fake likes, but I’d rather grow organically. For me I want to work in such a way that I get known for my work,” she says. However she doesn’t think there’s any right or wrong in buying fake likes. “I don’t work that way. But if someone else opts for that, then it’s their choice. There’s nothing wrong or right in this,” she adds.
Goa and says she enjoyed it a lot as “one wasn’t cooped up in an apartment”. “I had to return to Mumbai last month as the shoot of my web series was scheduled. [While in Goa], I hardly realised when the lockdown started and when the unlock happened. It was fun to be there, and work on my health and myself. My friends in Mumbai would complain about being stuck at their flats... It got claustrophobic for some,” she says.
Saavdhan and Malang, hit theatres before the lockdown came into force. “With newer expenses [Covid-19 related SOPS] at the time of reopening, we’d need help from the government. They can reduce entertainment tax, GST rates and property taxes for the time being,” says Manoj Desai, executive director of Mumbai’s G7 and Maratha Mandir theatres.
According to a Ficci-ernst & Young report, the number of single screens in India has anyway been steadily declining—from 7,031 in 2016 to 6,327 in 2019. And India is believed to have lost 10-12% of cinema screens since the start of the lockdown. These numbers could go up to 1520%, if theatres don’t reopen soon.
As exhibitor-distributor Akshaye Rathi puts it: “The sectors that have been most affected are the hospitality, tourism and entertainment. We’d welcome some stimulus in terms of discounts/rebates. Cinema [exhibition] business is in its most difficult situation. For many, it has become the question of survival. Keeping theatres closed for longer would sound the death knell for many.”
There are too many issues, say industry insiders. To start with, they want SOPS to be
The film industry stands divided once again as the debates around insider vs outsider and nepotism rage on. But for someone like Krushna Abhishek, who is also actor Govinda’s nephew, these discussions are rather unfounded.
He tells us, “Everyone has to struggle on their own. Yes, I am Govinda’s nephew. But woh nahi aate mere liye kaam karne, mujhe khud kaam karna padta hai. Maybe he will get me work, but after that it’s all about talent. Nepotism has no role in it.”
The 37-year-old also opines that family background can never decide the fate of an actor. “It doesn’t matter which film family you belong to. I am from a film family; I should have been in Varun Dhawan’s (actor) position. Varun also probably thinks he should be in some other
The government should seriously consider greenlighting the opening of cinema halls. Cases are, anyway, not going down as of now.
We’d welcome some stimulus in terms of discounts/rebates. For many, it has become the question of survival.
viable – financially and otherwise. “How can I have people sit in alternate seats, and also leave an entire row empty? Why would I have the entire air-conditioned theatre function for a handful of people?” says Sinha.
Desai also rues the lack of content. “Even if theatres reopen, will audiences come rushing in, especially when we don’t have exciting, new content?” he says.
During the lockdown, many single-screen theatres such as AVM Rajeswari and Maharani in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, Shanthala in Mysore, Karnataka and Sapna in Thrissur, Kerala, among others, downed shutters.
And experts say close to
50% of single-screen theatres may find it difficult to stay afloat.
“The government should seriously consider greenlighting the opening of cinema halls. It’s not as if opening them will lead to a sudden surge in [Covid-19] numbers. Cases are, anyway, not going down as of now,” says Shibasish Sarkar, group CEO, Reliance Entertainment. position. [But] everyone has their own journey and struggle,” he explains.
All these discussions gained momentum after the passing of actor Sushant Singh Rajput, which saw a spurt in voices calling out the bigwigs of the industry for creating an uncomfortable climate for the outsiders. “These people, who are talking about such things, are the people who are at home and not doing any work,” retorts Abhishek, while adding that Rajput’s death was a personal loss for him.
“I cried so much when I got the news. He was my friend, we both were part of a dance reality show. It is so sad because he was so bright. But he set a very wrong example by what he did. So many youngsters looked up to him and his wonderful journey. I can only wish that they don’t lose hope about chasing their dreams,” he says.
There are suicides and deaths in other sectors, too, but it doesn’t get much attention.
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