Can celebrities speak their minds on public platforms?

Shahid and Mira Kapoor were caught in the eye of the storm with their appearance on the recent episode of Koffee with Karan, when they discussed their marriage. Prominently, the duo spoke about the large age difference between them and also addressed the issue of arranged marriages. Throughout the course of the episode, Shahid spoke about the concept working rather well for him and even at one point mentioned that he really fell in love with Mira when she was pregnant with their baby girl, Misha. “It’s [then] when ‘you’ and ‘I’ become ‘us’,” continued Mira. This led to sections of fans slamming the idea of an actor in the position of Shahid’s propagating arranged marriage, amongst other criticisms, while another section said that it was merely his own story he had been narrating. We ask members of the glamour business, if speaking their mind is often a tricky idea in public, and whether they feel that they’re not entitled to their opinion at times, on the back of this incident.

‘The topic gets too trivial for a  public platform’
Kenisha Awasthi, singer
I feel if you’re a celebrity, you should opine about causes that actually matter. Speaking about social issues like environment or animal rights and propagating ideas around universal topics like these in public makes more sense. Arranged marriages and love marriages are very personal and have diverse definitions for people. So, I think it gets too trivial to be on a public platform and speak about something so diverse.

‘You will be judged no matter what’
Abhilash Thapliyal, radio jockey
Though in a democracy everyone has a right to speak their mind, opinions of celebrities are often misconstrued, deconstructed and scrutinised. You will be judged no matter what, so why not speak your mind and keep your conscience clear at least?

‘Backfiring must be expected’
Pearle Maaney, actress and TV host
Everyone has an opinion of their own. But when a celebrity speaks everyone listens. Sometimes, a lot of people accept and follow what that celebrity is suggesting. The point is a celebrity, who is speaking their mind out, should be prepared to face everything concerned with that comment. Backfiring is something that is expected. One cannot judge what will backfire and what will not. As far as I am concerned, I will always be myself.  

‘Shahid wasn’t propagating anything’
Jayasudha, actor
One should always speak their mind and not pay attention to mindless talks on social media. I really don’t care what others think about what I say or do. You can’t take everything into consideration every time before you speak. Shahid was only narrating his experience and not propagating anything.

‘It is an individual’s prerogative to choose what they do’
Suchitra Krishnamoorthi, actress
It is an individual’s prerogative to choose what they do and what they speak about. India is currently enveloped in a blanket of hate and trolls, and such negativity really needs to go. Everything is too intrusive and too disruptive — especially our politics. And what is wrong with arranged marriages? It has worked for thousands of people.

‘We might as well just speak our mind’
Akshara Gowda, actress and model  
Irrespective of what we say in public, even if it is a positive opinion, there are people who will judge us and have a problem with what we say. It is impossible to say something that will go down well with everyone, so we might as well just speak our mind. There are celebrities who are guarded and conscious about what they say in public, but I just feel sad for them. Some sections of people went on to say negative things about Om Puri even after his death. That is the sad state of affairs today. We are being scrutinised about everything right from our public to personal life.