T here is no longer an aura of mystery surrounding the personal lives of film stars. A fan encountering a star in the flesh was as rare as sighting a tiger during a safari. Interviews in the press were few and far between. Gossip columnists spoke to rivals for juicy titbits rather than those concerned. The lives of film stars makes for fascinating reading and this is a worldwide phenomenon. Actresses were always accompanied by their ‘ammas’ on the sets and during lengthy outdoors more to ward off romances that constant proximity and loneliness induces. Some relationships blossomed into marriage while others were brief encounters of the physical kind whispered about in hushed tones. Speculation is exciting till proved real.
Things have changed rapidly. The respectful distance a fan maintained on encountering their idol has disappeared. The cherished autograph scribbled on any available piece of paper has been replaced by a ‘selfie’ that’s shared on all social platforms. It can be quite tiring and irritating for a star to constantly sport a smile, shake hands and pose for pictures. You can’t blame the fans too because the public appearance of stars, to promote their films, grace mundane events and cut ribbons to open a hosiery showroom has become an everyday affair. Some luminaries have built a wall of arrogance that’s entirely understandable though frequently misunderstood. Ilaiyaraja jumps to mind. He disappears into thin air as soon as his work is done, be it a stage show or the recording theatre. He does not hang around, waiting to be mobbed and praised. He rarely smiles and this has helped dissuade fans from approaching him for anything, even a handshake. He’s least bothered about his public image because his music can dissipate any signs of disdain, however illogical. In contrast, I flinched when a fan nonchalantly put his arm around the effervescent singer Chitra’s arms for a ‘selfie’! It’s this misuse of freedom that’s alarming. Raj Kumar was the most approachable superstar I’ve seen and his fans respected that. They were satisfied just seeing him from a distance and were overjoyed when he enquired about their well-being in that caress of a voice. The humble fan today has transformed into a fanatic.
Varalakshmi the actress daughter of Sarath Kumar, in the wake of the Bhavana episode has confessed to being propositioned by a television programming head but the two cannot be compared. The casting couch is a choice and considered an occupational hazard from which you have the freedom of walking away. What Bhavana had to endure was horrific. It was an abominable act by a brazen bunch of goons who assumed she’d keep quiet fearing public disgrace being a film star. Sadly, we live in times when the victim is treated like a criminal, sometimes ostracised socially rather than sympathised with. Having known her they failed to realise that she was made of sterner stuff. Friendliness should not be mistaken for softness. That she ventured out without a chaperone shows the amount of confidence she had in her chauffeur. They may have overpowered her physically but she’s outwitted them with her strength of character. If blackmail and extortion was the intent, they were dealing with the wrong woman.
Directors love to repeat her in their films because Bhavana is effervescent, doesn’t throw her weight around, makes no unnecessary demands and is a talented performer too. All this counts in the film industry. It’s not for nothing that she’s sought after fifteen years since her debut. I had the pleasure of getting to know her quite well during a long outdoor schedule abroad for ‘Jackie’. She was accompanied by her mother who buried herself in a book. Bhavana would mostly be seen chatting away in Malalyalam with her man Friday and make-up man when not taking a long distance call. She had a ready smile and a casual word for everyone in the unit which was endearing. I was reminded of the friendly equation she shared with her staff when I read about her outrage. The fact that it’s sheer breach of trust makes your blood boil. The assumed protector turned into a perpetrator which makes it unpardonable.
The fact that the whole Malayalam film industry has rallied behind her shows her popularity. Most touching was actor Prithviraj’s post in which he mentions how she wanted to pull out of a film they were to start in the near future. It shows her professional integrity in times of grave personal adversity. Last heard she has been convinced to face the camera again, the sooner the better. She has a point to prove, to herself more than others. Being occupied will be therapy. Her victory will not be in the perpetrators being incarcerated. It will be when the audiences cheer her when she appears next on-screen, applauding her performance as much as her resoluteness as an individual. The physical pain will recede but it’s Bhavana’s feelings which have been hurt irreparably. Sadly, she’ll think twice before striking up a conversation with anyone in future.
sshivu@yahoo.com
