Devoted/crazy fans - how they arise?

There are stories of fans committing suicide for actor, suicide or depression if fav actor got married, marrying photographs, creating temples for stars, fasting for them, performing penance for their well being, garlanding their posters or performing abhishek of posters with milk, even creating "teerth yatras" of sorts as they visit places where star lived or where his/her movies were shot, or crazy fans who stalk the star.
Fans who even choose partners based on whether they like their fav star or not, name their kids, shops etc after fav stars.

How does this level of obsession arise? For utter strangers one watches, performing fictional characters on screen?

What's the cause of such craze that they allow it to affect their everyday lives as well?

Isn't it unhealthy? Why even some seemingly mature and highly educated people are such crazy fanatics?

I have heard people have even gotten into violent physical fights over stars, vandalised posters, hoardings, caused ruckus in theatres.

Why this level of obsession over just humans who act out fictional stories onscreen?

What's the reason behind such devotion of some people?

Is such craze over stars, such obsession healthy?

Why media also glorifies such devotee type fanatics? They ought to discourage extreme obsession!

How are movies able to sway some people to *this* extent?

Mob mentality. Modi-tards/AAP-tards/BalT-tards are other examples.

Originally posted by: NailClipper

Mob mentality. Modi-tards/AAP-tards/BalT-tards are other examples.

You at least hope to gain by supporting a political leader. What gain does a film star give?

Originally posted by: atominis

You at least hope to gain by supporting a political leader. What gain does a film star give?

It is a disorder called CWS..celebrity worship syndrome

I don't know. I have seen certain crazy devotion in singer fans too. Kishore vs Rafi wars are so intense that it's unbelievable that even grown ups could be this crazy. They have long died now. They never had animosity against each other. So why fanatics are bonkers?

Some have spent ages and lot of money to acquire old records, visit places where these singers lived or received training and then shared accounts online almost like it was some teerth yatra they undertook!

Why would you spend your time and hard earned money over a singer or actor who you don't even know?



Actors atleast embody fantasy onscreen. Singers don't even do that. Why such craze for a voice?

It's a mental issue. Some have it on IF too.

Sometimes it gets difficult for people to look beyond the on-screen larger than life persona of a celeb. The craze and love for that 'persona' continues to grow as the directors/heroes all try to cash on that larger than life-ness by constantly making similar films. It's a circle of sorts. If the makers try to break it...they receive a blow. Some examples are Rajini, Vijay, Pawan Kalyan and Chiranjeevi.

Does this fanaticism happen in the west too or is it limited to bollywood and southern film industry ? I don't have much idea.