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28 March 2024

Social media: Why Bollywood's Kangana, Katrina play it 'Saif'

Bollywood actor Imran Khan shares picture with Kangana Ranaut on Instagram. (Supplied)

Published
By Bindu Rai

In an interview with Esquire magazine this year, George Clooney spoke of his aversion to Twitter or rather, all forms of social media, saying: “If you’re gonna ask people to pay money to come see you in a movie, they don’t need to know your every thought all the time. I think there has to be some element of mystery.”

Clooney’s peer and A-lister Bradley Cooper was of similar mind, joining the ranks of Brad Pitt and other Hollywood powerbrokers that command top dollar at the box office, yet remain social media shy in their private lives.

The list of celeb names aren’t limited to just Hollywood.

Across continents, Bollywood’s top brass have also found their reasons to stay away from Twitterverse, with Ranbir and cousin Kareena Kapoor leading the rebellion, with the latter’s husband, Saif Ali Khan, being the most vocal of his aversion to the abcs of social media.

Emirates 24|7 quizzed five of India’s top actors and found out why they will never be tweeting into an inbox near you…

Kangana Ranaut

“I don't really understand how social media works when I'm in my character,” says Bollywood’s top reigning actress, despite delivering last week’s dud ‘Katti Batti’.

Kangana Ranaut call her method acting so encompassing that it leaves her with little or no time to interact with even her family on same days.

She continues: “When I did ‘Tanu Weds Manu Returns’, I was in my character for six months doing dual performances. It was so occupying that I couldn't believe how time flew by; the year went by.

“When we construct such amazing characters for our fans, we literally give all our time to create them. So I don't have anything exciting to connect with my fans during these phases.”

The actress, who plays a terminally ill person in ‘Katti Batti’, adds: “When I played Payal, I wasn’t in touch even with my own family for four months. I don’t have a friend circle.

“If they [fans] seek a personal relationship, wants us to share jokes, videos, a funny line every morning or pictures of coffee or honey, then I can't do the work I do.

“You have to choose what you need to do.”

However, Ranaut’s aversion to Instagram or Twitter is also rooted in her need for personal space.

The actress adds: “What is with these ‘people’ posting pictures of them going off to bed. Like a selfie on their pillow. All this is so personal for me. It would be uncomfortable for me that millions have access to such a picture of mine.”

Katrina Kaif

If her beau Ranbir Kapoor can do it, can Katrina Kaif be far behind?

The actress also swears an aversion to social media, maintaining an aloofness for her need for personal space after work.

The ‘Bang Bang’ actress says: “It is not like I planned, yes, I will be different and not join social media. I think, either it works for you or it doesn’t; it’s instinctive.”

Probe further and she adds: “I guess people get on there to promote their films, but I don’t need the added publicity or prying in my personal life. When the camera goes off, I like to switch off with it.”

Imran Khan

Kangana Ranaut’s co-star in ‘Katti Batti’ states he feels pressured by those around him to sign up for social media, despite his aversion to the same.

The actor, who was in Dubai earlier this month, told ‘Emirates 24|7’: “Before leaving for Dubai, I signed up on Instagram. My wife, my PR team, my studio, all were after me so I created an account. Let’s see how that goes.”

A few weeks and 30 posts later, Khan’s social media movement is limited at best.

He says: “I don't know how to explain it. Maybe because the way people connect with you on social media, is only because you are an actor, to get a glimpse of you they don’t get to see otherwise, through an interview or an appearance.

“They want a piece of you. I am not ready to give that.”

Saif Ali Khan

Perhaps the most vocal about his disconnect from social media, and one of the most trolled, is Saif Ali Khan.

After a lynch mob waiting at his door, albeit virtually, over his comments in wake of ‘Phantom’ being banned in Pakistan, Khan simply states, he was never into it in the first place.

He says: “I don’t understand the need, frankly. In fact, I am quite content with people not intruding into my personal life. And now, if I jump on to the bandwagon, it will look like I am chasing some social status online.”

Quiz him whether he thinks he loses out by not promoting his movie on social media and he states: “If that were the case, that every film promoted on Twitter would make a hit, then we would never have a flop film ever.”

Tabu

The powerful actress, who is generally media shy, states that it’s good to maintain a healthy distance.

In Dubai last weekend for a fashion store launch, Tabu said: “I have a private life that remains private. I have literally nothing to share with my fans aside from the characters that I bring alive on screen.

“Frankly, if fans get to know the real me, they will realise how boring a character I am. But there needs to be a healthy distance. This is a job we do. Nothing more.”