Guess Who – The CAA Effect

Rajeev Masand has published a blind item in Open The Magazine about celebs involvement in the CAA protests.

The recent CAA-NRC protests have rocked the nation. The country has been split into two groups. While some celebs are vehemently opposing the act, other have come out in support of it. It is funny how celebs with hardly anything at stake are calling superstar celebs “spineless” for not speaking out. In all fairness, these superstars have lost millions in endorsement deals earlier due to their penchant for speaking out. Others have court cases registered against them, which can be revived any moment by the ruling dispensation.

This ex-reigning superstar is known for his closeness to the top most political family(used to be) of the country. It is an open secret that the prodigal daughter is good friends with him. But the superstar has kept his urge to speak out against the PM in check after the backlash he faced for crying intolerance a few years back.

One female superstar who did stood with protesting students faced the brunt of the anger of supporters of the ruling party. Did the movie flop because of this PR stunt? Or is it a flop as it was a bad film? We will answer this query soon.

Blind Item

The recent uproar over the Government’s efforts to push the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the nationwide protests it has spawned has had an impact on Bollywood too. Many actors and filmmakers have openly condemned the violence against students, and in fact, the CAA too. More, however, have remained conspicuously silent.

Word on the street is that the matter has divided film folk. While some filmwaalas have come to the defence of leading superstars, suggesting that they are extremely vulnerable, so many others have called them out for not lending their voice at a time when it could carry significant weight.

Turns out though that not all are staying silent behind their high walls. One superstar has reportedly extended financial help to cover legal fees of those that were wrongly detained during the protests in Delhi. Another superstar’s famously vocal father is apparently mobilising friends to speak out, even though his own family cannot for complicated reasons.

The general opinion is that when the dust settles on the matter, it could leave many old relationships fragile and possibly broken. Respected film personalities who have taken an unambiguous stand are openly criticising an A-list male star whose closeness to the ruling party “has made him spineless”. They have been critical also of a powerful producer who is keeping his head down.

One top film personality may have lost at least a few friends for his unwillingness to show support or even acknowledge that recent events have divided his industry. Liberal voices in Bollywood are repeating over and over again that it is at times like these that one’s true character is revealed. Those trying to stay invisible hoping that it will blow over soon have been noticed.

Our Guess

Superstar: Shahrukh Khan

Powerful Producer: Bhushan Kumar