No, not the social-media junkies, the Kashyap’s and the Guptas who try to attract attention by stripping their bodies and souls. Let’s look at the genuine newsmakers of the entertainment business who made news without trying.
Amitabh Bachchan: From health concerns to the Dada Saheb Phalke award, the year was packed with news and events in the life of India’s biggest star-icon. When news of his deteriorating health hit the news spots, the nation shuddered in apprehension. One filmmaker known to create news by making films which are designed to shock mocked Mr Bachchan for not actively opposing the Government’s Citizens’ Amendment Act. To such sloshed buffoons, we can only say, go find other ways of getting noticed. And yes, go easy on the drinks and drugs. And yes when you get time do revisit the Collected Works of AB, from Saat Hindustani to Badlaa.
Karan Oberoi: If in 2018 we saw Tanushree Dutta emerge as Bollywood’s poster girl for the MeToo movement, in 2019 it was singer-actor Karan Oberoi who spearheaded the MenToo movement in Bollywood after being incarcerated for alleged crimes against a certain vengeful woman, all false. Instead of growing bitter over the apparent injustice, Karan channelized his inner humanism to help others like him. He is now ready with his book on his experiences in jail.
Lata Mangeshkar: India’s greatest entertainment icon nearly didn’t make it. Her sudden hospitalization just a few days after her 90th birthday plunged the nation into a state of nervous anxiety. As the days in hospital increased, the anxiety mounted. No information was forthcoming from the Mangeshkar family. This gave the rumour-mongers a field day cruelly killing her off on social media. Lucky that Lataji escaped all the cruelty and has a sense of humour about “murder on social media.” As the year ends, Lataji is back home, resting. No better way to end the year.
Salman Khan: His film releases did not do as well as expected in 2019 as expected. But that didn’t stop Salman from being a chronic newsmaker from showbiz in 2019. Whether it was for his controversial comments while hosting the execrable Bigg Boss, his fall-out with Sanjay Leela Bhansali, the birth of his niece at year-end, or for simply not turning up for a court hearing, Salman remained the No.1 newsmaker of the year. Salman also has the dubious honour of figuring in films where he had to make no effort to act. Simply being Salman was enough. Some people have all the luck in the world.
Zaira Wasim: The Dangal scene-stealer’s decision to quit Bollywood after mounting pressures from elements in her home state Kashmir, shocked and disappointed many, and made us all think about the forces could possibly corner a girl to give up her promising career. Zaira garnered incredible support in the film industry. Sadly the Secret Superstar’s not-so-secret leading lady has not seen her own 2019 film The Sky Is Pink. Who was to know it would be her swan song?!
