Hear me out before you send those abusive hate emails! Truth is Sharukh Khan is a great actor and a somewhat socially responsible person. I will tell you why I don’t give him full points in the social responsibility area. No it’s not because of the recent on screen smoking rift between him and some politician. I really believe film makers should be allowed freedom to bring full life to the characters, and it was unwise of the politician to make such a gesture. So I am definitely on Sharukh's side on this issue.
Now, I am slightly unhappy about our popular actors, including Sharukh, acting in TV commercials and posing for magazine advertisements. A truly passionate and great actor such as Sharukh should be challenged by the character he plays on screen. Where is the challenge in acting in a Pepsi commercial? I am not an actor but I still can gauge the level of skill one needs to act in TV commercials. Let me tell you this, you don’t need Sharukh Khan or Amitabh Bachan to bring life to a TV commercial character. I don’t think I need to really argue to establish the fact that our bollywood guys act in commercials for money. These actors are strategically picked as ambassadors to promote higher levels of consumption, whatever that may be. Needless to say it works out well for both parties, Pepsi as well as Sharukh, monetarily.
There are a lot of talented actors and models in the Industry that can make the commercial industry look more appealing. I for one find it very boring to see the same actors that we have seen for many many years on screen. Recent Airtel (no barriers one), Moto Yuva, etc are good examples of how refreshing commercials can be if they display new faces. These lowly paid new actors struggle to make it in the industry, and these big bollywood actors make it even more difficult for newbies to enter into the industry. Sometimes I find it easier to accept illegal action over unethical action. I would rather see a Taluk office clerk ask for a bribe than to see a big actor taking away the livelihood of an upcoming actor. As a big fan of Sharukh, I am disappointed that he is deviating from meaningful ways to make extra cash.
Okay I am going to answer the immediate questions that you might send my way:
1.Aren’t cricket players doing the same?
Answer: As of today I can accept sportsmen because their incomes are not as high as actors yet. But with IPL salaries the salary game is going to change soon and at some point in future when their incomes catch up with the actors I will exercise my right (as a citizen and a consumer) to impose on them the same burden that I am ‘trying’ to impose on actors today.
2.Would you not do the same if you had the opportunity? I bet you would.
Answer: No I would not. Test me out by making me a celebrity:-))
2.Isn’t that the nature of capitalism to allow people to earn to their potential?
Answer: Yes. Capitalism allows one to freely explore all financial alleys, but at the same time a Democratic nation such as ours allows us, the people, to question that free will of a capitalist. There is a difference between a private figure and a public figure. In an ideal world both figures should have a moral (or be obligated by the law) to live an ethical life. But we are not in an ideal world. However we at least live in a society where we can impose certain burdens on public figures. Sharukh Khan happens to be a public figure. He is who he is because of what we gave him. We made him a hero. So we have a right to demand (at least bring to his attention) from him things that make sense to us. That’s all we are doing…bringing to his attention what we think is right and where he has been misguided by the faltered systems. This is sort of like an emission check for celebrity conscience.
Now how do we put this request across sensibly? Let me forward a quote from my driver’s son…
“Mr Sharukh, I am a 25 yr old model living in a one bed room sharing with 4 others. I make 4000 rupees in a month if I am lucky. I sleep 4 hours a day so I can pursue my modeling career. As I understand there are several thousands just like me pursuing a career in modeling. It is only fair that you and other actors resign from modeling careers to allow aspiring models and actors such as me to pursue careers in the industry. I understand companies lure you and other actors with huge amounts of money, it will take a strong will and principle from you to say NO and to bring this positive change. Your hefty remuneration would be distributed amongst many of us to live a decent life. Please use all your power to influence other actors as well to bring this broader change in the industry. You will be giving much needed hope to many people like me by giving us an opportunity to pursue our careers and make a living in this industry. Thanks in advance!”
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I would like to point out that that example about the clerk taking a bribe - that would be both illegal and unethical - so that would have to be worst in that situation.
ReplyDeleteI agree with you in some ways. But i would say it's supply and demand. And sometimes we need to focus on why there's a demand? Why are people drinking more pepsi because Shah Rukh is in the commercials?
Sashe, I respect your opinion. But there is more to it than just the act of the bribe. In a poor country like India with high inflation a clerk almost has to depend on bribes to survive. There is a reason I cited Clerk's bribe as an example instead of either a politician or a high ranking officer. Because as you said in later cases, they are both illegal and unethical.
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