An open letter to Deepika Padukone, the flag-bearer against Media Tyranny
Hello Deepika,
Since writing open letters is the new flavour of the season,
please allow me to share a few thoughts with you, the new ray of hope for all
the victimized celebrities…and more so, for being a role model for the larger
cause of womanhood.
As you’re aware, there has always been this vicious
love-hate relationship between celebs and media. We can debate this
relationship, but let’s not make it a man-woman question. It’s less to do with
dignity of women/womanhood/manhood but more about defining boundaries of this
media-celeb equation.
Media and Celebs have also been perfect fodder for each
other. Together they drive two of the biggest industries in the new multi-media
world. Exhibitionism and Voyeurism. The success of Facebook, reality shows like
Big Boss are all prime examples of such Exhibitionism and Voyeurism working
hand-in-glove, in perfect tandem. The celebs exhibit, the media laps it up like
a voyeur. The celebs exhibit more, the media barges in further. One fine day,
the celeb suddenly develops cold feet/becomes coy/decides to spark a
controversy. Or alternatively, Media forgets its boundaries and voyeuristically
ventures into the personal space.
This is a larger question for media and the celebs to set
their working equations right. Clearly set those terms and conditions of play. You
will admit that the Peekaboos, the Oops moments, the malfunctions are not just the
figments of a perverse media. But Celebs too have (at times) an equal role to
play in scripting these ‘moments’. Some scripts work, some don’t. And if at
times they don’t, it would be inappropriate to blame it on womanhood and lack
of dignity. It will be more about certain boundaries and code of conduct not
being followed – accidentally or deliberately. These are some standard perils
of your job and knowing your intelligence, I am sure you are completely aware
of it.
Since it took you 7 years since your debut, to wake up and feel
offended about some outrageous pics and captions, can I please encourage you to
actually have the courage (and selflessness) to take this ahead full-throttle. These
pics have been on the web since always (perhaps your 3G/wi-fi connection was weak earlier)
with flattering/unflattering pics of you and most of your colleagues. Where were
you Deepika when the media last ‘framed’ your colleague Katrina during her
private moments in Ibiza? What was your stand then?
Regardless, it’s never too
late to start a revolution. Please pick the cudgels now and bring this to a
logical conclusion. Please set up a new ‘Do not Publish without permission’
code of conduct between Media and the Celebs. Push for a new protocol, a bill,
a law. Now that you’ve ignited this, please fight this out young lady. You owe
this to all your brethren in tinseltown and to the larger cause of Womanhood! No?
Salman Khan quotted saying - "Yes, I am a Man. And I have developed a Paunch. Can't help, have been having too many home-cooked Biryanis off late. But doesn't give the media guys to feature me needlessly and disrespect my manhood! Sob, Sob!"
Deepika, to reiterate once again – this is a celebrity-media question
and about the perils of your job. It is not really a womanhood question. It involves
your male colleagues as well. Most of them have been under the scanner as well.
As with the ‘leak’ above – their paunches have been commented upon, their wrinkles,
surgeries and botox analysed, their hair transplants/wigs/weaving minutely
dissected and deliberated upon, their affairs closely tracked and chronicled.
Please don’t equate Media with the lecherous men on the road
who ogle, whistle and try to grope and paw without your consent. The media
simply captures you in a space where you’re fully aware you’ll be clicked and
shot extensively. When some of your colleagues leave for an event in their
skimpy outfits (and at times conveniently missing the inner-wear), they are
fully aware of the 1,000 flashbulbs awaiting their arrival. The media ain’t a
perverse animal on the prowl that has planted spycams in our households or is
capturing demure housewives in titillating positions while doing their
household chores. The ‘Yellow’ media is simply where it is supposed to be.
Covering your multiple movie promotion events and success parties.
That some of your colleagues still choose to take a risk or ‘dare
to bare’ is amongst the necessarily survival skills required for your industry.
For every 1 principled, sure of her-talent, dignified lady like you, there are
at least 10 others, willing to compromise, dare, bare and take the short-cuts. So
it’s cut-throat, cutting-edge necklines and I am sure we’re all pretty aware of these state of affairs. And hence
all my admiration and encouragement for someone as independent, principled and
talented as you …who has steadily created such a wonderful niche for herself in the industry by virtue of powerhouse performances
in back-to-back hits.
My only humble request to you would be to pick up the
cudgels and fight as a ‘celebrity’, as a ‘youth icon’ when you think your modesty
has been outraged, or some of the photography terms and conditions have not
been met. Please don’t play a victim and cry ‘womanhood’ as it takes away the
sheen out of all that you've achieved so far. It also dilutes the enormity from some serious
and heinous crimes being infested on women across the nation. Female infanticide,
dowry deaths, khaap panchayats, child abuse, gang rapes, molestation at public
places, prostitution rackets, cyber-crimes and domestic violence to name a few.
If you have lived by the dictum of ‘If you have it, flaunt
it’, please be brave enough to face and fight the clicks (some flattering and
some unflattering) by virtue of your ‘Youth Icon’ status and not on the
crutches of ‘Womanhood’. If not leading
Media houses like TOI, I am sure you’re aware of the plethora of
high-definition cameras or smart phones that will be zooming in and capturing you,
their favorite celebrity for their wallpapers and screen savers. I am sure you
are super-intelligent and completely aware of these risks of your job. As they
say, ‘the risks that come with the territory’.
Hence Deepika if you actually decide to fight and take it up
for the entire industry, fight like a true warrior. Fight for the entire
industry and even your male co-stars. Fight
for your principles, values and moral conduct. Fight these giant media houses
(who think they are indispensable and can arm-twist any celeb) and compel them
to change their business models. Not a single snap to be published without the
celebrity’s formal consent to do so. Not a single cheap caption and headline
either.
I am sure Deepika you have the gumption to fight this in
your own capacity as a ‘gutsy celebrity’, without having to seek any further
support from ‘Womanhood’. The ‘Womanhood’ already has a lot going against it in
this country. I am sure we can let it focus on much larger issues plaguing the
nation.
“I am a woman, and I have breasts”. “I am a man, and I have
developed a paunch”. “Damn, I am a man, and I have worked hard to create a
perfectly sculpted cleavage.”
I am sure you get the drift Deepika. Please leave the
man-woman noise out of it. We don’t really need pseudo-feminism to fight this
one out. Sheer conviction and audacity of your fight against "Not to be clicked
without my consent” should suffice. Please go ahead, fight it, close it! And please
do not wait for it, until your next movie is up for release.
