Bollywood bigwigs must follow BJP's tune or risk being villainised

The extremist party has a history of strongarming Bollywood stars if they go off-script

Last week, Bollywood star Aamir Khan, made headlines when he visited the Turkish first lady Emine Erdogan as he was visiting the country for the shooting of his upcoming film, Laal Singh Chadha.

As the pictures of their visit went viral on social media, the actor was trolled relentlessly. Many called out the Dangal star for meeting the Turkish first lady as the relations between the two countries are not cordial.

"If he does something, if he says something, all should keep quiet?" a user wrote. "But when he disagrees, none should question him? He wants India for selling his work, but he has no commitments for India as a country? People already eager to give dislikes like never before!"

Aamir didn't respond to the flak he received over the aforementioned meet.

However, this isn't the first time a Bollywood star has been criticised for not aligning with the politics of the country. In a piece authored by Swati Chaturvedi for Gulf News, she explains how Bollywood bigwigs must follow BJP's tune in order to survive. The piece revolves around why the Khans, whenever they aren't chanting slogans of the extremist party, are sidelined and are outcried on social media and otherwise.

"The BJP’s agenda is clear," Chaturvedi penned, adding, "The superstars should ideally align themselves with the BJP and be prepared to be used for electoral fodder or they will be attacked relentlessly by the government and its army of enforcer trolls."

She went on to add, "This has now forced a huge split in the Mumbai film industry because while some B and C grade actors have jumped on board the BJP, the real superstars, the trinity of the Khans - Aamir, Shah Rukh and Salman - have kept the BJP and Modi at arm’s length."

Chaturvedi shared how this wasn't the first time the 3 Idiots star was called names and attacked by the troll army on social media. The author had exposed BJP's 'systematic trolling' in her book, I Am A Troll.

"I had exposed in my investigative book I Am a Troll: Inside the BJP’s Secret Digital Army, Khan was hounded in an organised and systematic way and Snapdeal was asked to drop him as brand ambassador via an organised campaign," she continued.

Chaturvedi claimed that a source close to the actor was taken aback by the harsh response by his fellow countrymen. She shared how a source close to Aamir said, he was “shocked and hurt by the attacks since as far as he knows India has friendly relations with Turkey. It was a courtesy call blown up to unreal proportions. This is the politics that they do. And, it has been going on for a while now. Khan prefers not to join the debate.”

BJP's mandate is crystal clear.

As long the stars are smiling in the pictures, lauding the party for their 'nationalism', all's well. The moment the bigwigs dare not align with BJP's directive, what ensues is something Bollywood actors are far too similar with now.

Another similar telling can be how Kangana Ranaut has been given the prime time for accusing several Bollywood artists for the tragic demise of late actor Sushant Singh Rajput. The reason she has been heard - and lauded - for her stance on any matter is due to her undying support for the mainstream political party. If this doesn't tell you how BJP controls the Indian film industry, nothing else will.

As Chaturvedi aptly puts, "Those who will not act to the BJP’s script have no role in the film industry."

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