Bollywood: the rot within, and the glitz outside - By Shobhaa De

Night after night, the 24x7 newscycle confirms our worst inferences about the murky goings on in Bollywood. The ugly underbelly of Mumbai’s movie industry has been exposed — and everybody appears nanga under the harsh glare of scrutiny.

The precious golden aura that film stars basked in has been replaced by a dark layer of grime. Everybody is squirming. Even those whose names aren’t out there so far. Bollywood appears more like Gotham, with evil people lurking in the shadows, terrorising a cowering populace. Who is there to fight the rot that threatens to destroy the system, devour several reputations and derail the monolith known as Bollywood?

Some of the names being tossed around and declared ‘finished’ by the trade are the same ones who have been dragged into the ongoing Rhea Chakraborty investigation. No surprises there. Even if the biggest and brightest of the lot is supposed to be in deep shock at the dramatic turn of events. His friends are said to be worried about his fragile state of mind and insist his low mood has much more to do with a sudden realisation that he has emerged as the most disliked person in Bollywood. Of all people, he was the one celeb who banked on his immense popularity within and outside the film industry. Overnight, he has been declared persona non grata. And woken up to the sad, well-concealed truth that far from being liked and adored, he is actively detested. That too by the very people who cultivated him over the years and wanted to be a part of his coterie.

Today, the image game has gone for a toss — just like that. Carefully constructed narratives around several big names have been deconstructed, dissected and dumped, with all the revelations emerging in dramatic bursts from an outspoken lady sitting inside her chalet in Himachal, and issuing daily challenges to her colleagues. Kangana Ranaut is a one-woman tornado — watch out Bollywood. She can flatten just about anybody in her path with lethal precision. The more important point is this: How much of what she is saying is an accurate representation of ground realities in the film industry? Is she the only gutsy film personality around who is determined to expose the twisted, dark world of Bollywood, having seen its worst side herself?

The thing about Bollywood is its schizophrenic personality. For all the awful stories one is hearing these days, involving drugs, underage girls, violence, suicides, even murder, there is the flip side, too, which needs to be equally acknowledged.

For every exploitative individual ruthlessly killing the dreams of ‘outsiders’ who don’t play ball, there are any number of generous, kindhearted people reaching out and encouraging newcomers to shine.

At the moment, Bollywood is being judged for its worst traits — and mind you, none of what Kangana is saying is either made up or exaggerated. It is a pretty vile place controlled by those who exert enormous power over the lives of hopefuls. A vicious club does exist that cruelly and deliberately sets out to crush anybody who poses a challenge to the established roster of stars and filmmakers.

Drug abuse? You bet. It has been an open secret for decades. All those stories of stars doing lines at parties and events are bang on. Kangana has merely gone ahead and named names. Surprisingly, none of those accused by her have denied her charges publicly or threatened action. In fact, there has been radio silence from the top layer of Bollywood, with not a word of support for Sushant Singh Rajput. Regardless of how he led his life, surely a tragic death of a colleague is worth condoling?

In the old days, it used to be alcohol and sexual abuse. Women were the main victims, with little or no control over how they were treated. Those who survived the ordeal generally had the support of the big heroes and producers who provided ‘protection’ — for a price, of course.

Today’s girls are far tougher and in a position to call the shots. At the end of the day, it boils down to money. At the moment, so many production houses are limping and strapped for cash, what with the pandemic hitting at the very core of the film industry. But more than widespread financial ruin, it is the demolition of mighty reputations that has generated maximum shockwaves. It’s called collateral damage.

Fragile ‘friendships’ are being frantically reviewed, but for some, it is already too late to distance themselves from all the muck flying around. Promising young stars with a proven track record may soon find themselves in the wilderness, with no new films or endorsements coming their way. Top-rated television shows are being cancelled, and contracts renegotiated as the film industry, reeling from the financial blow dealt by the pandemic, finds itself disgraced and despised by the very people who form its backbone — the fans.

It’s going to take years of serious damage control to regain the lost lustre and prestige.

Read more at:

https://mumbaimirror.indiatimes.com/opinion/columnists/shobhaa-de/talk-time-bollywood-the-rot-within-and-the-glitz-outside/articleshow/77936548.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst

more reasons why i support KR

Ooh, a long nasty Blind Item with Kangana as some truth teller heroine.

I wonder who planted it.

People have learned nothing.

bootlicking Masand won't help your stars either. I wonder who planted all those blinds on Sushant. 

I've very curious and have a deep contempt for whoever planted those blinds against SSR and assassinated his character. I am so bummed that it's not even in the news or being addressed by anyone? It's an actual crime to make false allegations of sexual harassment. 

Even Rhea in that interview somewhere mentioned that he was deeply disturbed by those blind articles that damaged his reputation. How come no one cares enough to catch those scumbags behind it and set an example out of them? 

Shobha De is right about one thing for sure. None of Kangana’s statements on BW is an exaggeration. But Kangana makes people uncomfortable because she attacks their favorites while exposing Bollywood or they’re afraid she will expose their favorites. Hence they shoot the messenger. 

Exactly what I said. They’ve worshiped their stars and now know someone has the dirty secrets but don’t want them to spoil their image.

I call Kangana one woman army but one woman tornado sounds way more legit. Thanks Shobha De 😆

Major cognitive dissonance happening all around us 😆

"the rot within, and the glitz outside" that's every industry in the world. Go ahead because only BW gives you platform and limelight. So hop on to it, no one cares.