HT-M-Chasing stars - Shashank

After all, what's a star without fans to applaud, cheer and, err, stalk them?

Stars and fans share a symbiotic relationship. For actors, fans are integral to their lives as they can make or break their careers. Case in point, when Barun Sobti quit Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon, his fans threatened to not watch the show if another actor replaced him. The channel ultimately had to end it.

During Karan Singh Grover's recent trip to Jaipur, he came across a female fan who threatened to jump off Amer Fort if she wasn't allowed to meet him. Karan had to oblige. Mohit Raina's popularity as Mahadev gets him kheer as an 'offering' from fans, who end up literally worshipping him. Another popular actor claims that a fan has named a star after him and even sent a certificate. Aman Varma used to get letters in blood while Shashank Vyas still gets calls at 3 am.

Hiten Tejwani feels that fans can get obsessive. They want to marry them or want spouses like them. But they are usually tongue-tied when they actually meet the stars. When people see Anas Rashid in T-shirts and jeans, they are surprised as the look isn't in keeping with his character Suraj, in Diya Aur Baati Hum.

On the Internet, fans fight frequently over their favourite actors. Some TV stars have, in fact, become social network sensations, even though you may not even recognise them if they were sitting at the next table at a coffee shop. NRIs, especially, feel a sense of kinship with stars and gush over them.

Who doesn't like attention? Actors do too. But fan frenzy can be irksome too, especially when actors are hounded in public. It's a vicious circle. After all, what's a star without fans to applaud, cheer and, err, stalk them?