Bollywood saw a clash within its fraternity as Tapsee Pannu, Swara
Bhasker, and Siddharth criticised similar-worded tweets by Akshay Kumar and Ajay
Devgn, in response to pop star Rihanna’s post on the ongoing farmers’ protest, PTI reported.
While some actors took a direct jibe, others like actor-comedian Vir Das
and ‘Rang De Basanti’ actor Siddharth made subtle yet witty remarks at the “puppet”
show by big stars for the government.
Singer Rihanna started a cascade of tumultuous events when she shared a
post of internet shutdown in Delhi on Twitter saying, “Why aren’t we
talking about this? #FarmersProtest.” Following this, climate activist Greta
Thunberg, Meena Harris, Amanda Cerny, Jay Sean and Mia Khalifa voiced their
support to the protesting farmers.
Also Read | ‘Let’s support an amicable resolution’, says Akshay Kumar on the issues raised by farmers
India reacted sharply to these tweets as Bollywood stars rallied around
the government in its pushback.
Akshay Kumar, Karan Johar, Ajay Devgn, and Suniel Shetty advised people to
“stand united” and support “an amicable resolution,” using the hashtags
#IndiaTogether and #IndiaAgainstPropaganda.
Some in the film industry called this sudden and coordinated Twitter
activity as “embarrassing” and “tragic” as they failed to acknowledge the
plight of the farmers.
Pannu said in a
tweet that one should focus on strengthening one’s own value system than
getting affected by a tweet.
“If one tweet rattles your unity, one joke rattles your faith or one show rattles your religious belief, then it’s you who has to work on strengthening your value system not become ‘propaganda teacher’ for others,” Pannu wrote.
Also Read | ‘Clueless moron’: Kangana Ranaut blasts Taapsee Pannu for her tweet on ‘propaganda teacher’
Actor Siddharth tweeted that “a little spine could have saved the
day” as powerful celebrities toeing the government was the real propaganda.
“When powerful people who never take a stand, all suddenly sing the same tune in an orchestrated effort and just tow the line they are told to like pawns, that’s what propaganda is all about. Know your #propaganda. #farmersprotest,” the 41-year-old actor wrote.
Actor Sonu Sood took a sly dig, without naming anyone, writing, “If
you call the wrong right, how will you get sleep?”
Actor Sonakshi Sinha also supported Rihanna’s tweet, as she shared
quotes from a social media page storysellers comics, which said the voices
raised by international celebrities are “about the violation of human
rights, suppression of free internet and expression, state propaganda, hate
speech, and abuse of power.”
Stand up comedian Vir Das said he was amazed to see how Indians got
“mobilized” over a tweet by Rihanna and Thunberg.
Director Onir too took a dig at the tweets in support of the government
and termed the so-called support from Bollywood a “puppet show”.
Bollywood celebrities have often been questioned by the media for not
speaking up on politically sensitive topics unlike their counterparts in the
US.
Also Read | It’s Hollywood Vs Bollywood over Farmers’ protest on social media
Referring to the fact, Bhasker wrote on Wednesday, “Aur Bolo
”Speak Up Bollywood,’ ”Speak Up celebrities.'”
“Wonder what they are trying to achieve, and more imptly
(importantly), who are they trying to please?” she added.
Fashion designer Farah Khan Ali shared her “disappointment with the
fraternity”, saying that the tweets by some Bollywood stars gave the impression
of a “marketing gimmick.”
“Disappointed with the fraternity tweeting identical tweets that make it more like a marketing gimmick. Whatever their reasons & I’m no one to judge at least u could have tried to make it more original. Now you have given yourselves away. Reel Life Heroes VS Real Life Heroes,” she wrote.
Abhay Deol also shared the tweets of Pannu, and
others who questioned the Bollywood.
Thousands of farmers are protesting, since November 26, against the Centre’s three farm laws, which they claim, would lead to the corporatisation of the agriculture sector.
