Daily Times

Being a celebrity has its charm and glamour, but fame has a price one needs to pay. We live in a world where everyone gets objectified despite the individual differences and everyone under the spotlight is held on a pedestal that sets them apart from the general public. It’s no exaggeration that we tend to attach some ridiculously unrealistic expectations from the people that are already out there in the spotlight. We search for perfection within them, we delve for inspirations from their successes and before we realise, we turn them into our ‘idealistic saints’, demigods, in other words. While we are too fixated at the whole idea of transcendence, we let go of reality and neglect the element of being ‘humane’. The minute we see our inspirations slipping away from their usual excellence, we toss them away like they are fallen angels.

Now that you realise that we tend to subconsciously or unconsciously place certain personalities in such difficult spots, let us truly admit that even though we tend to victimise ourselves for being disappointed by our idols, it is not their fault, they are only humans and human beings aren’t machines with perfect programs installed within them. Should we expect them to be flawless? It is unfair and beyond one’s mortality to function like a programmed machine.

This applies not only to the ones related to stardom, but every human being that has us captivated by their strengths. Try focusing on their struggles and perhaps you will find a bigger inspiration to embrace and cherish.

Recently, ‘Kala Chashma’ singer Neha Kakkar was caught in a frenzy by her fans that turned their backs on her when she failed to perform ‘oh-so-gracefully’ at a wedding event. Neha Kakker was fooled into playing at a wedding event even though she had strongly submitted her conditions that she did not perform at marriage ceremonies. Neha was ill and yet she managed to perform on the stage but after an hour’s show, she decided to head back home because she felt very sick, however nobody tried to understand her situation. Her fans did not let her leave and the management forced her to get back on stage, where she ended up having a massive emotional breakdown. To go through such an emotional crisis in front of everyone is nerve wracking itself. Then consider the damage done when fans start attacking you on social media and posting rude comments and ridiculous jokes, mocking your breakdown. Sounds insanely inhumane, doesn’t it?

Neha broke her silence and expressed her sentiments on Facebook, stating, “Such a sad thing, when you’re a celebrity, people don’t take you as a human being, for them you’re just a puppet. I was performing for a wedding today though we always say no to wedding day gigs, we do pre-weddings. So today the event company fooled us by saying it’s a pre-wedding gig when I landed they told us it’s the wedding day only. So anyway, I had to perform since we had already promised. After being unwell I performed for 60 mins and gave my 100% after 60 minutes, I couldn’t perform any longer. I came down, told the organiser that I’m not feeling well I’ve to leave, they said you cannot move from here until you perform more. I told those people I’m sorry I won’t be able to perform more, I’m not in a condition, but they all kept on clicking pics with me even after knowing the fact that I’m unwell and I had to go on stage again and then I broke down on stage itself. I couldn’t control my tears. Regretted being a celebrity for a second today. I know whatever I am today it’s because of you guys. But don’t I deserve a break when I’m not well?”

Perfectionism is only an illusion. What’s disturbing is we cross limits and don’t contemplate the consequences of every action. Fame might take celebrities to higher places in life but it sometimes does so at the cost of their own sanity.