The ‘celebrity’ remake: how actor-audience interaction has changed over the years

In a 1992 interview that recently went viral, Malayalam actor Sai Kumar, then a newcomer to the industry, was seen speaking with disarming candor about the state of cinema at that time. “Honestly, Malayalam cinema is unbearable right now. Is something memorable being done? I don’t even remember the names of some of the films I’ve been in.”

It was a time before the proliferation of private television channels when stars were not seen much in public except on the big screen. The only other portals into their world were movie magazines, which brought people news from the sets along with generous doses of gossip. A rare TV interview would have the typical set of questions that would at times elicit candid answers that would tell us more about the actor and the man, as can be seen in the Sai Kumar interview mentioned above. There will be serious discussions about cinema as a medium and even introspection of their own choices, as happened in one of Mohanlal’s first television interviews with Doordarshan. This was the more common format, rather than the typical informal chats discussing salacious gossip from their personal lives or from the set.

Cinema in our hands

With the explosion of television channels, the world of actors became more accessible to the common public, with many appearing regularly with their families for interviews timed around festivals like Onam. The nature of the interviews also did not change much during this period, although some of them were injected with an element of fun that distinguished them from the prim and proper, and at times sedated, interviews seen on the state television channel. The general public still didn’t have much direct access to movie stars, which had to wait until the age of social media.

Actors and filmmakers through their social media presence have opened the doors to the current phase of celebrity culture where movie celebrities are expected to be active, online and offline. The changing nature of the film business, with billions of money for each film, also meant that promotional activities were now a large part of the work of actors and directors. It’s no longer a choice. From touring popular campuses, appearing in crowded malls to interviews with TV channels, YouTube channels, FM stations and Instagram/Facebook live appearances, most of them have a hectic schedule before a movie premieres these days. It can even be more grueling than shooting a movie, so much so that most actors now only give interviews related to pre-release promotions and rarely sit down for a long profile interview the old-fashioned way.

Some of these promotional activities, especially mall appearances, campus shows, and frequent social media appearances, have made actors more accessible to the common man than in the past, somewhat reducing the aura once associated with them. From shyly asking for autographs on the rare occasion they spot a movie celebrity in public, actors are now forced to pose for multiple selfies at each of these appearances. There have been times when things have also gotten out of hand, like the recent incident where two actresses were sexually assaulted in a mall by some people in the crowd while they were leaving after attending a promotional function.

Change conversations

The nature of interviews with stars has also undergone quite a change, with much of it superficial, having nothing to do with even the film they are trying to promote. These are a world away from interviews like the one Sai Kumar gave in 1992. It was in one such interview, recently given on a YouTube channel, that Srinath Bhasi had an allegedly abusive outburst that eventually led to his arrest and a temporary ban on film productions. The actor, who apologized, tried to defend his behavior by citing the punishing schedule of promotional events and the silly nature of the questions he was repeatedly asked. But another video of him interviewing an FM station, in which he can be heard hurling expletives at the host, didn’t help.

Bhasi with his alleged offensive outburst, lost an opportunity to turn some of these Youtube channels that are known for click-bait content and often intrude into the private lives of actors in an attempt to imitate Coffee with Karan format. In one particularly challenging interview, actor Asif Ali was asked if he had dated anyone without his wife’s knowledge. The actor, without losing his cool, asked her to maintain some standards while fielding questions. Actor Aparna Balamurali recently shared her frustrating experience of being asked about her crush in an interview right after winning the National Award. Even senior TV presenters have been known to ask questions aimed at eliciting information about their personal lives. In one such instance, actor Shobhana scolded the host for asking a personal question despite being told not to do so earlier. The comments they made in interviews landed a bunch of younger actors including Shane Nigam, Shine Tom Chacko and Dhyan Srinivasan in controversy. But that doesn’t mean funny interviews are a strict no-no. Quite a few online channels have interviewers who know how to strike the right balance between fun and sincerity.

Constant censorship

Actors and directors who are known for serious comments may also be more cautious now, given the online backlash that has followed some of their remarks. Actress Parvathy was viciously trolled and abused on various online platforms after she commented on some misogynistic scenes in a superstar’s film. Similarly, actor Nikhila Vimal was also the target of abusive comments after her statements in support of eating beef. Raising a genuine concern or openly voicing a choice is now fraught with the danger of attracting the wrath of regressive elements who often hide behind anonymous accounts. Still, it’s commendable that some of them stood their ground.

Even if they remain silent, female actors now invariably face a barrage of sexist comments. Younger actors like Anaswara Rajan and Esther Anil, who are just out of their teenage years, are often the victims of uncharitable comments about their attire. The lack of platforms for the public to make such anonymous comments in the past may have spared actors of the past from such attacks. Yet these same platforms have allowed large groups of people to come forward and express solidarity with these young actors facing unjust attacks.

Trolling and cybercrime

From a time when the printed word or the occasional television appearance were the only ways for viewers to have an insight into actors’ lives outside of their films, it has now reached a point where every action an actor takes in public spaces is watched and scrutinized both by admirers as well as detractors. It has sometimes turned out to be positive for some actors like Tovino Thomas, especially around the time he came out to participate in flood relief efforts in 2018. On the other hand, there are others like actor-producer Vijay Babu who appeared on the infamous live video on Facebook and named the survivor after a female actor made allegations of sexual assault against him, leading to cyberattacks on her social media accounts. Rape-accused actor Daylip’s army of online supporters are also campaigning relentlessly for his “innocence” and attacking anyone who mentions the allegations against him. It has become easier for those with star power and followers to push false narratives that are favorable to them.

The era of actors seeing more on-screen than off-screen is certainly over. It also had its positives, especially in allowing them to maintain a somewhat personal connection with their fans. There were also some bright spots among the epidemic of shallow interviews. But recent episodes have shown that the boundaries of decency and acceptable behavior are being crossed, sometimes by celebrities and sometimes by hosts, in the mad rush to create the next viral content.