Activism for Bollywood is limited to the silver screen only but when it comes to real life, they lack what Meryl Streep has - courage and conviction.
The world of make-believe and plastic facades that crumble once the director says, cut. That is Bollywood for you.
The Indian public is aware, highly aware. After they showed two thumbs up to Hollywood actor Meryl Streep’s audacious take on Donald Trump, they lost no time in reminding that Bollywood could learn a thing or two from her:
Will some Bollywood celebrity stalwarts kindly express their sincere protest on #Chattisgarh molestation/ rape-victims,please? #MerylStreep
— Sanjay Jha (@JhaSanjay) January 9, 2017
LOLing hard at all the Bollywood people who will say WHOA RESPECT MERYL STREEP, but won't speak up against Raj Thackeray here.
— Rohan (@mojorojo) January 9, 2017
There were tweets from the Bollywood fraternity also :
I wish we had someone with the courage to feel so deeply, and speak so openly and clearly, here as well. Thank you, #MerylStreep . https://t.co/9owB6PKjFU
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) January 9, 2017
Waiting for a#SayItLikeItIs moment at desi Film Awards. Do we have to import Meryl Streep or can one of our stars show guts and speak up?
— Shobhaa De (@DeShobhaa) January 10, 2017
The list is endless. The Indian movie watching junta has hit the nail right on the head. On one end you have the film fraternity applauding the gutsy Meryl Streep for her take on the establishment and on the other hand they all wish there was someone in Bollywood who would do the same, but will not be the first one to do so. ‘You first’ syndrome, is it?
I wouldn’t blame Bollywood too much because whenever celebrities ever chose to speak up regarding establishment or other grave issues, they were branded, anti-national, bigot and traitor. The traitor tag being especially strong with the Muslim members of the fraternity.
However, what is largely visible is this kind of unsaid enforced silence in the Bollywood industry. The practice has always been to toe the establishment’s lines and demands. Why? Because saying anything against the government or the powers to be means – a barrage of insulting terms, a call for their film’s boycott and ending up in the public’s bad books which could be detrimental to their golden future on the silver screen.
B-town biggies like Shah Rukh Khan, Akshay Kumar, Twinkle Khanna, Salman Khan, Sonam Kapoor, etc will tweet on women issues, equality and feminism and morality issues but when it comes to taking a stand against the establishment, surprisingly the A-listers of Bollywood will be conspicuous by their absence.
Even within the film fraternity there exists a code. When Anurag Kashyap made hard-hitting movies like Black Friday , when Manoj Bajpayee essayed a brilliant role in Aligarh, when homosexuality and lesbianism were being discussed openly in Fire, Kapoor and Sons and more such movies, only art directors or cast associated with the film will care to tweet or raise awareness about it. From the Bollywood crème de la crème you can expect one line “ What a wonderful film or Good work” and their job of tweet kissing is done. No vocal endorsements or support for such buried issues.
This is what Aligarh director Hansal Mehta had to say on Meryl Streep's Goldrn Globes speech:
We try so hard to be apolitical and sychophantic. We're afraid to take a stand. We're fearful of power. It shows in most of our films.
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) January 9, 2017
And look at what the director tweeted when the word ‘homosexuality’and ‘namard’ were beeped out from a television screening of the movie
The words were muted, yes. But the film wasn't. No point lamenting censorship because IT EXISTS. I'm glad Aligarh was shown on TV.
— Hansal Mehta (@mehtahansal) September 12, 2016
Even when Salman Khan’s impending jail trip was in the news few celebrities chose to take a stand, few were cryptic in their support or dissonance. Why? Because no one wants to antagonise Bhai. They very well know how getting into bhai’s bad books could spell disaster for their filmy career.
Terrible news. Dnt knw wht to say except tht will stand by @BeingSalmanKhan no matter what. Hes a good man and no 1 can tk tht away frm him.
— Sonakshi Sinha (@sonakshisinha) May 6, 2015
It hurts when your own are punished, even if they are in the wrong. We love you and are standing by you
— Alia Bhatt (@aliaa08) May 6, 2015
If anyone thinks that just by making an example of salman khan is going to deter people from drunk driving, think again! Educate ppl instead
— Rohit 'KAABIL' Roy (@rohitroy500) May 8, 2015
Amitabh Bachchan when asked by Daily Bhaskar about his silence on the issue and why Bollywood was in support of this controversial bail, is quoted to have said, “Film fraternity is a combined group of people, we interact, we work; so it becomes natural for us to support the stars we know. I think sometimes you are restricted because the procedure is legal. It’s like family. If a family member is caught in such a case, what do you do?”
What did Shah Rukh Khan do for Raees?
When it came to My Name is Khan in 2010 the Shiv Sena said no Pakistanis and no reference to Pakistan and that Shahrukh was being an anti-national. At that time he did not bow down to the Shiv Sena but when it came to his 2017 release Raees, Shah Rukh is a changed man. He went to the MNS Chief Raj Thackeray and pacified him that Pakistani actress Mahira Khan, his co-star in the movie is not promoting the movie and that she will not be coming to work in India.
What did Karan Johar do for Ae Dil Hai Mushkil?
The Shiv Sena raised objections again to Pakistani actor Fawad Khan's role in the movie. They staged protests, made it difficult for KJo to release the movie. What did the director do ultimately? The movie makers paid ₹5 crore to the Army welfare fund for casting Pakistani talent.
Watch his statement on the same where he says he will not work with talent from the neighbouring country
Like products from the same factory here's what Bollywood tweeted on demonetisation in India:
Super move by @narendramodi govt in the war against black money.. kudos to the think tank. #endcorruption
PM Modi ji. Ball out of the stadium. Wohaaaaaa!!!! De monetisation is the right answer. Congratulations!
— Rishi Kapoor -"Book" (@chintskap) November 8, 2016
This is truly a masterstroke move!!!! @narendramodi hits it out of the stadium!!!! 🇮🇳
— Karan Johar (@karanjohar) November 8, 2016
What more proof do we need that Bollywood knows which side of its bread is buttered. Activism for them is limited to the silver screen only but when it comes to real life, they lack what Meryl Streep has - courage and conviction.