The recent rave party bust in Khalapur had actor Farhan Akhtar tweeting and he got so frank that he ended up revealing, “Been to many raves growing up. Even when below 25. They were fantastic! Nothing happens there that can’t happen someplace else.” If the tweet has anything to do with his upcoming release, only time will tell. But when a public figure like Akhtar, who youngsters look up to, shows such a casual approach towards a serious topic, does it take away the gravity of the subject?
Social networking is a dangerous tool and we are yet to figure it out. “Firstly, any star today seems to be able to provoke a reaction, considering how easily Indians get provoked. Words can be misleading at times and then they take away the importance of the event and turn it into a matter of mockery. So I think famous personalities should be extra careful considering they have a fanbase of people who are ready to believe anything they say,” says fashion student Shantanu Mishra.
Seconds Jaya Sharma, a tour operator and says celebrities are always under the public eye, so whatever they say has its positive as well as negative implications. “Especially when you speak about things which might not sit well with the law, but need to be addressed with a fair amount of gravity. One needs to avoid making stupid joke out of them. If they don’t watch what they say, then the subject itself ends up being a mockery fest.”
Rave parties are about things, which as per any culture or law are wrong, Drugs and open display of physical intimacy is against the law not just in India but across the world. “As a public figure Akhtar should refrain from making statements which create any kind of curiosity in anybody’s mind. Kids may now want to attend a rave assuming it’s just another party. Plus if my parents question me, I would contest by giving a reason that even stars attend this. Had this been bad, why would they go there? I will ask,” reasons Shiv Sood, an independent recruiter.