Nirendra Dev
Concern in Bollywood is something more than the ‘murder of democracy’. India’s cash-rich Hindi film industry and the protagonists have reasons to be unhappy about the fall of Uddhav Thackerey’s secular dispensation
Frustration gripped India’s money-rich and at times ‘Dubai-Karachi friendly’ Hindi film industry as Uddhav Thackeray – father of illustrious son Aditya ‘neo-secular’ – was shown the door in
the Mantralaya.
Here are a few samples and our argument on why such unhappiness has been unleashed as a neo ‘ED’ – Eknath Shinde and Devendra Fadnavis duo takes charge of governance in Maharashtra.
“What an unrelenting s**tshow! Hum vote detey hi kyun Hain.. Elections ki jagah ‘Bumper Sale’ lagaa doh har 5 saal.. #MaharashtraPoliticalTurmoil,” posted a vocal so called ‘secular’ foot soldier, Swara Bhasker, who calls herself on Twitter as ‘also an actor’.
Simi Garewal also tweets paying homage to Uddhav Thackeray’s political piousness and says, “Because he has no greed for power, he doesn’t play wily political games. It’s rare to find a leader of such dignity & integrity as @uddhavthackeray”.
Such accolades would definitely make Late Bal Thackeray proud of his son — but only complaint could be the ‘Hindutva’ bastion had got shaken.
So, now that Hindutva has returned to Mantralaya, India’s Dubai-inspired industry is feeling shaken.
Are we exaggerating things?
Why did Mumbai police and the Uddhav-led ‘secularly virtuous’ regime get nervous when the Sushan Singh Rajput episode got unraveled?
Nepotism was discussed for a while and even blogs came out what characters are developed around ‘Khac chachas and Mary unties’ saving orphans and how the village temple priest is an informer to Daku Mangal Singhs.
Now, who knows, some Agnihotris could plan another blockbuster ‘The Bollywood Files’ ? Why professionals behaved peculiarly about a film on atrocities of ‘genocide’ of Kashmiri pandits.
There is enough Masala …. cash, money laundering, drugs and even social activism.
Remember the anti-CAA days !
One major drug episode and Sushant’s ‘suicide’ case were brushed under the carpet, it was alleged. What happens to ‘Mullicks’ and their Nawabi style vis-a-vis politics of Sahibs ?
Devendra Fadnavis might have been made deputy chief minister but be sure he would be the favourite punching bag for some more months to come in Bollywood and Urdu-lyrically inspired scripts and press statements.
Bollywood’s impartial and objective apolitical characteristic had surfaced during 2002 Gujarat mayhem and subsequent cases too. Ad-man to talented lyricist took up Zaheera Sheikh (Baroda) case and award winning stars like Nasir said later India may not be a fit enough nation for his children !
Remember the quotes that went viral – “My children will have no answer?….. and, “Because we chose not to give a religious education to our children”.
Like those of Teestas (now in Jail), a group of Ecofascists were also busy enlisting Bollywood support for Aarey and the intent seemingly was to oppose infrastructure developments. They same players have played these games in the Narmada project in the past.
In 2021, the Enforcement Directorate (ED), probing conman Sukesh Chandrashekhar in the Rs 200 crore money laundering case claimed that he has an association with several Bollywood celebrities.
The agency has already questioned actors Jacqueline Fernandez and Nora Fatehi.
Assets worth Rs 7.27 crore of Jacqueline Fernandez were attached in April this year under the anti-money laundering law.
Thus, as the saying goes with a modest twist, as you sow, so shall others reap and eventually so shall some others get frustrated.
The concern in Bollywood is something more than ‘murder of democracy’.
