The Ideal Celebrity

I just finished watching Shah Rukh Khan's short interview on IndiaTv.

Some people manage to turn you around to their point of view inspite of your own strong opinions about them. I'm not a very big fan of Mr. Shah Rukh Khan the actor, but I find myself admiring Mr. Shah Rukh Khan the person.

The interview was about the famous actor being held up in the US for questioning. India TV kept propping up dramatic catch phrases like 'Khan ke apman ka Dard suno', or "Apmaan ke bad Khan' etc. During the entire interview however, all Mr. Shah Rukh Khan tried to do was emphasize that what happened was routine procedure, he was bewildered yes, as anyone would be, but it is nothing to sensationalize. It was very admirable the way he downplayed an obvious effort of the News TV channel to blow up and dramatize the issue, no go, Shah Rukh never gave them the opportunity.

THIS is the way the celebrities of an educated sensible nation should behave. THIS is the kind of example they should set forth to their audience, young and old, especially young. THIS is the kind of attitude every Indian should display, simply being proud of what they are. THIS is the attitude that makes Mr. Shah Rukh Khan a lot more than the king of Bollywood, I'm sure thats a very admirable thing to be too, but at the end of they day, what lasts is how good a person you are.

The reporters kept quoting other people, some politicians, some actors and what not, and kept trying to create more melodrama in the interview, but sensibly enough the actor did not rise to any of those. They even kept misquoting him, where he said that the use of cellphone was not allowed, they wrote that HE was not allowed to use a phone, as if targeting him for some personal injustice. The attitude of the media was very irresponsible, melodramatic, and shameful for a country of well educated citizens.
He did express that prejudice on the basis of religion is not fair, and there he is completely justified, but apart from that, he maintained a very down to earth and yet dignified stand on being questioned for security purpose. He also appealed that the kind of help he received from the Indian media, the Indian embassy or whoever the officials involved were should be extended to every other respectable Indian. I would say that although I don't remember his words verbatim, his very attitude is worth quoting, worth adapting by all of us. He very humbly accepted that he's a common man as much as anyone else, and it was fair enough that the security at the US airport was simply doing their duty.

I wonder what it would take for us Indians to take our attitudes responsibly. I wonder how long will the media take to act responsibly when it comes to forming public opinion. I wonder what it would take for every common Indian to feel special about himself on his own, and not depend on someone else's opinion to define his own identity.

Mr. Khan, I hope people will learn from you, 'coz you are an inspiration for many. I hope they will learn a lot more from you than dressing up, carrying a 'cool rock star attitude', realize, notice that you are a good human being before anything else, and understand that THAT is what matters. I also hope that other celebrities will learn from you, realize that their words, their opinions affect the minds of Future India, and that they have a responsibility to at least not mislead them, if unable to lead them in a right, positive direction.

Here's to hoping there are more responsible and sensible Indians like you out there.