Rape, working moms, nepotism – Can Bollywood stars stop being vexatiously frivolous?

Bollywood was all aplomb in its starry galore, when the prestigious IIFA awards took place recently, in the New York city. However, seems like all was not destined to be as hunky dory as it normally is. Somewhere in the middle of the event, when it was being hosted by Karan Johar and Saif Ali Khan, the name of Varun Dhawan was announced for the category of Best Actor in A Comic Role, for ‘Dishoom’. Once the shock of it started to wear off, something else happened.

In their intoxication of being privileged, the three actors took digs at Kangana Ranaut and her remarks on nepotism, in her absence. They made fun of a perfectly valid point that she made, trivialising the concept of nepotism, which exists in the industry, with them three being examples of the same. More than that, they made fun of a woman in her absence, irony being that this year’s IIFA was dedicated to the concept of women empowerment.

Kangana indeed raised a fair point and got her own share of flak for being an ‘attention seeking ho’, as trolls like to call a ballsy woman, but she only spoke about the topic when it was raised. On the other hand, Karan never left any opportunity to discredit Kangana, and even accused her of playing the women’s card. Like, really? We supported you, Karan, when the ban on Pakistani artistes was affecting your movie, when protests were being carried out in your name. But going on and on about a woman for voicing out her opinion only makes you look bad and insecure. And Varun? Isn’t Kangana your senior? Or that you consider yourself too above mere mortals who have not been born into privileged families. Anyway, in your words, they ‘whine’ as if their parents have not even given them a ‘pencil box’, right? Because an opportunity of a lifetime equates well with a pencil box, after all. The opportunity you got so easily. Grow up, son. It’s a long road for you. As for Saif, seems like the nawab lost his tongue the day Kangana owned the episode of ‘Koffee With Karan’, wherein she accompanied him. What a fine and royal way to talk about her behind her back.

Though Varun and then Karan have respectively come out and apologised, that has been mainly due to the social media ridicule and pressure, that even they cannot ignore, because it comes from their fans and the ones who watch their movies. And of course, which filmmaker and actor would like to lose on the audience for some moments of fun. Hence, the attempt to cover the disaster. Anyway, at least they acknowledged that they were being crude and unreasonable. (Also Read: Is Varun apologising for the nepotism remark pulled on Kangana at IIFA?)

The worst part, this is not the first time the privileged in Bollywood have made fun of a sensitised topic, suiting it to their own comment. But dear B-Townies, life is not how you see it, through the rosy tint, right?

Remember the time when Mira Rajput trivialised working moms, and even pet moms, that too on the occasion of Mother’s Day? Because apparently, the 22-year-old mother, who is married to one of the most sought-after actors of the industry, the one who has a pretty good net worth, had more knowledge on motherhood than the 30-something women of the country who are striving to make both ends meet, to raise their kids, and help their spouses run the houses simultaneously. Because well, privilege does make you do that. What’s worse, Shahid somehow tried to sugarcoat his wife’s words, citing that she meant to lead the other women who choose to be homemakers. Dear Shahid, it was never about the choice, it was about demeaning, which your wife did, unapologetically, out of the sheer immaturity that rose out of her privileged lifestyle.

Rewind a bit. Enter Salman Khan. Well, we can understand his privilege, for that was what went behind him being acquitted in the infamous ‘hit and run’ case. However, the beloved ‘bhai’ went on to compare the toil he went through while shooting for ‘Sultan’, to that of a raped woman. Clearly, he did not empathise with the concept. In a country where rape has become a common occurrence rather than a heinous crime that it should be, a superstar like Salman Khan, who is the messiah of masses, spoke this about rape, making a joke out of a term that is a cause of terror for the women of the country. Sad, extremely sad. Especially when you know that in a country of a billion, there are millions who follow and worship your screen persona blindly, and they are the ones who do not have the sense to separate reel from real.

When did Bollywood become so desensitised? When did they become so apathetic? Or when did privilege hound their head so much, that they forgot what it was to feel like a common person, the same who spends money to watch their movies, cheer for them, and be a fan.

However, it is not always the case. Deepika Padukone came out and brought depression out in the open, urging people to talk about it. She was also the one who openly expressed her dissent over the infamous cleavage controversy, without stepping down from her stance even once. Kalki Koechlin has been an active supporter of women’s rights and does whatever she can to bring the existent evils against women, to foray and eradicate the same. Aamir Khan has been actively involved in social causes, whether through his words, or his means, or even with the shows and brands he chooses to identify himself with.

It’s time these privileged stars stop becoming so apathetic. It’s time they stop taking the general people and their issues so lightly. It’s time they come down from their clouds and get a taste of real life before demeaning the same with their Gucci dressed tongues.

Kadambari Srivastava

Grammar Nazi, word weaver, dreamer, bibliophile, technophile, caffeine addict, foodie, shuttling shopaholic! Mash it in a Bollywood recipe and voila! Pushpa, you’ve got her!