Celebrities pull crowds but do not size up the vote bank. There are reasons why personalities choose to be apolitical in India, says Karan Bhardwaj
The Presidential election in the US has been a starry one. Celebrities such as Oprah Winfrey, Tom Hanks and George Clooney have been part of political campaigns. Others like Donald Trump, Rosie O’Donell and Madonna too have lent their voices. Back home in India, personalities have shied away from expressing their political preferences. Everybody was stunned when lata Mangeshkar backed BJP’s hopeful Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Interestingly, a week later, Congress’ scion Rahul Gandhi called Sachin Tendulkar his “friend” and wished him luck for his last match. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh got the government’s rulebook changed in one night and announced the batting maestro be honoured with Bharat Ratna. The recent developments sparked debate whether celebrity endorsements or their proximities to political leaders hold any relevance at ground zeroIJ Do celebs play any role in manipulating the psyche of votersIJ
Crowd pullers
If you go by the experts, popular faces have no say in the electoral results. They are good to fetch attention but do not affect the vote count. “So far, voters have been indifferent to celebrities endorsing politicians. Except in South India, where the movie star-politician cult is played out differently,” said author and commentator Shobhaa De. However, since they are a part of democracy, it’s a good sign that they come out, speak and utilise their right of expression. Also, there is a larger psychological impact when a celebrity speaks. “It’s great that lata Mangeshkar spoke about her PM candidate. It’s a sign that top celebs are in tune with what’s happening in the country. I think more celebs should come out. What it definitely does is creates an atmosphere where more and more people would think of politics and form opinions. We may or may not agree with them,” said Vinay Shanker, Assistant Professor, University School of Mass Communication, GGSIPU.
Peep in the past
In India, celebrities are often considered easy targets for political groups. They are made scapegoat for political rivalries. lata Mangeshkar welcomed Congress’ ire over Modi’s backing. Shiv Sena has often targetted Shah Rukh Khan while MNS chief Raj Thackeray didn’t spare Asha Bhosle after she collaborated with Pakistani artistes for a reality show. “People are getting intolerant about opinions. We cannot live with disagreements. That’s the main reason why celebs keep away from politics. Another reason could be they are insulated from what’s happening in lives of poor people or things bothering them,” said Shanker. Added Sonali Chitalkar, researcher, National University of Educational Planning and Administration (NUEPA), “Celebrities have a carefully cultivated public image. So they usually steer clear of controversial socio-political issues.”
Apolitical move
Even as celebrities endorse specific campaigns, they try to de-associate themselves with politics. Amitabh Bachchan sportingly posed with Narendra Modi when he became state’s tourism ambassador but clarified he never endorsed Modi. “The Gujarat campaign is a push for tourism. It has nothing to do with political beliefs of Modi. My tourism campaign doesn’t mean I am aligning myself to Modi. In a democratic society, we follow certain democratic rules and accordingly if he’s chosen in a role which is Prime Minister, that’s the choice of the people,” he had said.
Regional loyalty
Experts believe that regionalism play a significant role in voting grounds. “Shah Rukh Khan may pose with Bengal CM Mamta Bannerjee or Amitabh with Gujarat leader, but there’s no impact on people’s opinion since these actors don’t belong to respective states,” said a political observer. There are celebs who may possess national appeal but are seen closer to their communities. For instance, lata Mangeshkar is hugely popular across India but her fondness for Marathi folks and Maharashtra is pretty evident.