Hindustan Times ST (Jaipur) - Hindustan Times (Jaipur) - City
ARE CELEBS MEANT TO KNOW IT ALL?
Is it fair to expect Bollywood celebs to have a view on all burning topics, even those unrelated to their industry? We find out
One of the drawbacks for Bollywood actors is that they’re expected to comment on everything. Actors Sushant Singh Rajput and Parineeti Chopra were recently asked to comment on the case of Indian national Kulbhushan Jhadav, who has been sentenced to death by a military court in Pakistan. The case has become a major bilateral issue. The actors refused to comment, saying they weren’t in a position to talk about it. Their refusal spiralled into a debate over
American actor-singer Abigail Breslin (left), who has spoken out about being sexually abused at the hands of someone she knew well, says she did not report her own sexual abuse because of many reasons. “First off, I was in complete shock and total denial. I didn’t want to view myself as a victim so I suppressed it and pretended it never happened. Secondly, I was in a relationship with my rapist and feared not being believed. I also feared that if my case didn’t lead anywhere, he’d still find out and hurt me why film actors should even be asked to comment on current affairs when they’re promoting their films. On Jadhav, Parineeti’s even more. Third, I knew how hurt my family and friends would be after finding out and I didn’t want to put them through that,” eonline.com reported Breslin as saying. Earlier in the month, in honour of Sexual Assault Awareness Month, Breslin posted a script showing a powerful message: “You are not obligated to have sex with someone that you’re in a relationship with. Dating is not consent. Marriage is not consent.” The 21-year-old actor captioned the Instagram photo: “I knew my assailant. reply was, “I’m the least important and least worthy [person] to comment on this. One can’t force me to have an opinion on something that doesn’t concern me.” In the past, too, there were incidents when celebrities dodged or refused to give an opinion on sensitive issues such as terrorism, rape or a historic judgment. “We can’t be opinionated about everything under the sun. That’s like expecting us to have a parallel job of an opinionator,” says actor Taapsee Pannu. Actor Ali Fazal points out that it’s unfair to blindside public figures with issues that they might not know much about. “At times, actors comment on things without thinking of the consequences and then they are labelled ‘dumb people’, which isn’t true,” he says. Filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt says that celebrities are used to add some sheen to news products and their silence is also a response. “But since you can’t market their silence, they’re coerced into saying something. One has the right to speak, and also to be silent. But a ‘no comment’ response is bad business in this ‘soundbyte’ age,” he quips.
As a public figure, it’s our responsibility to express [our views] in a balanced way NIMRAT KAUR, ACTOR
In such situation, is it better to stay quiet? Actor Nimrat Kaur says it’s wise not to give out half-baked information. “As a public figure,” she says, “it’s our responsibility to express [our views] in a balanced way whenever we’re vocal or are asked about an issue.”
One can’t force me to have an opinion on something that doesn’t concern me PARINEETI CHOPRA, ACTOR
Some celebrities blame their “lack of information” on their hectic lifestyles. “Most of the times, we’re travelling, we’re in different time zones and continents. It’s a bit unfair to expect us to know everything that’s going on,” says actor Richa Chadha.