Heroes vs Villains - Bollywood vs Politicians

We are all aware of a definition of a Hero or a Bollywood Hero! But will Sharukh Khan stand up to be a true bollywood hero? We have to see who wins in this real life game of hero’s vs villains!

The relationship between bollywood and politics has always been complex. Though arts, culture and cinema should be beyond politics; the political scenario in India is very connected with bollywood. One connection is the career change by many charismatic actors and actresses in their tail end of their acting career to a political career; or popular actors running the political campaigns for their favored politicians. The other connection is the untold truth that political parties in India control a lot of goings on in India, be it cinema, culture, violence,.... The hegemony of certain right wing politicians in Mumbai, the bollywood capital, is extremely pitiful and distressing.

It’s unfortunate that even a celebrity like Sharukh Khan’s fundamental right to speak is questioned and dissected creating hoopla. Looking at the muscle and domination some politicians play on bollywood in connection with the latest bollywood news of Sharukh Khan , I agree with Sukethu Mehta, who mentions in his book ‘ Maximum City’ about Bal-Thackeray, a Godfather-like founder of the Hindu nationalist Shiv Sena party, as "the one man most directly responsible for ruining the city I grew up in ( Bombay)" ; I think he can also be called the puppeteer who is demeaning the bollywood actors and film makers to puppets , unbecoming to the creative artists and the art.

Sharukh Khan is not the first bollywood actor who has been roped into political controversies. Amitabh Bachchan , Jaya Bachchan, Mani Ratnam, Ram Gopal Verma, Mahesh Bhatt, Sanjay Dutt, Karan Johar, Kareena Kapoor,….. a long list of bollywoodians have been muscled around. Some have succumbed to pressure and decided to agree, apologize and appease.

Sharukh Khan seems to be still standing strong. He may be right or wrong in his controversial speech, but he is taking a stand. It is affecting the release of his film in Mumbai/Bombay but the movie “My Name is Khan” whose primary focus audience may be the Indians abroad is sure to do well internationally. Hence Thakeray may be doing great P.R favor for Sharukh Khan’s new movie. So it may after all be a win-win situation for Khan!

Will others from Bollywood take a similar stand? Why should the entertainment industry be subjugated by politics? Do politicians forget if bollywood comes together it can influence millions to stand up with them? Why are bollywood actors and filmmakers forgetting their charismatic strengths? Why cannot bollywood actors stand up to being hero’s in real life not just in movies? …. There are many more questions, but only bollywood can give its answer.