You know you are a “fan” of a celeb if you think about their films or music day and night. You wait for their releases more than anything else every year. You don’t feel like appreciating other actors much, especially the ones who are major competitors to your favourite. You are a die-hard fan.
But here is why I think that is a problem.
The Fan Wars: When Admiration Becomes Toxic
How often have you seen a Shah Rukh Khan fan who doesn’t take a dig at Aamir or Salman? Be it any debate on an online forum, Twitter, an interview, or a film release. The same applies to Aamir and Salman fans too. One has to accept it: if you are a blind fan of a particular star who is among the Top 10, then you are bound to have a certain dislike for the rest of the 9. The dislike could be small or big, depending on the kind of person you are. That’s the price you pay for being a die-hard fan.
Two Types of Fans: The Mature and The Stuck
There are two kinds of fans: one who matures with time, and one who never does. I have met both types.
I remember an incident on Twitter years ago regarding the music of Mausam (2011). I wrote a tweet saying, “Mausam music is very good, among the best of the year, but still it doesn’t enter my top 5.” Immediately, a few Sonam Kapoor fans unfollowed me. They wanted it to be in the Top 5, maybe even No. 1. Of course, it didn’t matter much to me as I never followed them… I knew they were going to unfollow me one day! The point is, a fanatic adores their favourite celeb to such an extent that even a balanced comment… which holds true… is seen as an “anti-fan” statement.
Don’t Waste Your Time Arguing
You should not argue too much with immature fans; they won’t ever agree with you. They will remain stuck in their thoughts and only waste your time. There was a time when I used to argue with them, but not anymore. The ‘Ignore’ or ‘Mute’ button gets pressed the moment I see such things coming. You can go anywhere else and make your noise; I am not interested.
The Violent Fan Problem on Social Media
Some of the immature fans are genuinely aggressive. We see so many cases of abuse on social media today. I don’t like to confront them; I always prefer to stay away.
In fact, due to these kinds of fans, I feel bad for every celeb who uses social media. Most celebs use the medium mainly to promote films, but 10 or 15 years ago, did anyone think they could actually communicate with their stars so often? Instead of using this access wisely, violent fans send abusive tweets, thinking they are succeeding in making a rival celeb feel bad. It is a childish act, but very common in today’s times. They don’t even spare journalists, so how would they leave celebs?
Why I Keep My Distance
Personally, I have no feeling for a person who is a blind worshipper of a celeb. That’s not the kind of company I want around me. If my friends happen to be like that, then I make it a point not to talk about their favourite celebs with them. Because I know if I talk more about them, they will show me their love towards that celeb in abundance, which will only irritate me.
So, if you ever wondered why I talk less about your favourite star with you, you just got your answer.
Respecting Talent Without Becoming a Fan
I agree that in your “Top 5 Favourites” list, some actors won’t be there. For example, Kareena Kapoor, Salman Khan, or Akshay Kumar generally won’t come in my Top 5 list because they time and again disappoint me with their choice of films.
But here is the key: they won’t come in my “Worst 5 Actors” list either. If you have stardom, then you certainly have got some talent to get it. How much different people like you depends on how your talent is nurtured by directors.
Final Thoughts
In all, to lead a life of being a “fan” is very tedious, and not worth the fun at all. At least that’s how I feel. Enjoy every actor’s good work, and have constructive criticism about the bad work. If we all did that, the filmy world would become so much nicer.
