Celebrities lead an insulated life and are involved in the dream manufacturing business rather than the grim realities, and so there is a tendency to believe that they are apathetic or ignorant and it is this stereotype that ensures they are prejudged negatively. On the other hand every celebrity uses a cause and the only way a celebrity can earn credibility is by consistently standing up for a cause or social issue particularly when the arc lights are not focused on them. However, I reflect that bollywood celebes lost creditability during the general elections in 2004 when many of them joined political parties citing their wish to serve society, but in no time vanished from the scene!
In an article on 19th April 2006 Priyanka Deladia for Bombay Times interviews senior bollywood actress and social activist Shabana Azmi who says “It’s alright when celebrities support causes such as AIDS, polio, cancer etc that don’t have a political connotation. The minute a celebrity is involved in the social cause that has political ramifications, political parties rush to rubbish their stand and malign the image of society.” And on a lighter note, actor Jackie Shroff adds “You’re damned if you do, you’re damned if you don’t” in a way I do agree with Jackie Shroff that celebrities are expected to take on social responsibility, because they are in the position financially and powerfully to do so. Although when they do support various different social causes the scepticism prevails…
