Bollywood Baatein: Sense, sensibility and sensitivity

When in an interview with me, Nawazuddin Siddiqui spoke out against celebrities posting holiday pictures, the last thing I expected was his brother to slam him for it.

The Tweet mocking Nawaz came as a rude shock. More so, since Nawaz is shooting a film being directed by the brother.

What brought this on? Nawaz is clueless. Or if he knows the reason for his outburst, then he didn’t share it with me. When it comes to family Nawaz won’t say a word against them even if they go to town washing dirty linen in public.

Since the controversial interview came out, I’ve been asked how I managed to get Nawaz to lash out. The truth is when I asked him about his colleagues flaunting their hedonism at a time when civilization is paralyzed by unprecedented recession, I had added, “Nawaz, it’s okay if you don’t want to talk about this. It’s up to you.”

Nawaz chose to talk about stars shamelessly flaunting their wealth at a time like this. He spoke out because as a prominent member of the film fraternity he felt ashamed of the excesses that stars indulged in.

And then, the Bhai jumps in. I’ve never understood the sibling dynamics in Bollywood. Somehow I’ve never been able to get along with the relatives of stars. One major superstar’s good-for-nothing brother got a chat show solely on his star-bro’s name. I sent him a text praising the show. He wrote back a nasty response saying he knows what I am all about, blah blah and absurd threats.

I could only laugh. Sometimes these parasitical star-relatives behave more like stars than the stars themselves. A veteran actor, a superstar in his own right, has been a dear friend for years. He has always treated me with the utmost love and affection .But his star-daughter is another ballgame altogether. After one story that she didn’t like she sent me a text (which I have saved) warning me that she would teach me a lesson.

“One Tweet of mine is worth more than everything you’ve ever written,” she had declared imperiously.

It’s a monumental illustration of arrogance and self-deception. I am sure when she reads this, she will know whom I talking about. She must also know I kept quiet about it because of the love and respect I share with her father.

A father who was, and remains, a far bigger star than she can ever be. The problem is, star-relatives have never faced the struggles of the star. They grab the star’s stardom and use it to aggrandize their own self-worth.

So, take that, all you star-rishtedars. Learn to restrain yourself. Do not get carried away. Govinda was almost on the road because of his brother. I am sure Nawaz is much too clever for that.