Shweta Bachchan’s open letter is a reminder that children should be allowed to have their share of fun
Being part of the Bachchan family is not an easy task, as everyone’s attention is always focussed on them. Navya Naveli Nanda, granddaughter of Amitabh Bachchan knows better. Anything and everything the 18-year-old does garners attention and her mum, Shweta Nanda has had enough.
In a heartfelt write-up, Shweta appealed to the Internet folks and the media, to give her daughter’s private life back to her.
Navya Naveli Nanda is just another teenager who has shown no interest in the show business so far. But, her link to one of India’s most famous families makes it hard for her to lead a life like any teenager her age. With the family legacy of the Bachchans, some say it is a utopian idea that she remains unnoticed by the media. While this argument maybe reasonable to an extent, it does not justify the insensitive connotations that she is often portrayed with. Nisha Jamvwal, celebrity columnist, states that content providers are guilty of such things.
“Don’t victimise them just because they’re having fun like any other person their age would. The family has been responsible in every way, so don’t project her in a negative light.” She adds, “Since being in the media for someone like her is inevitable, she could make use of the stardom and take up a cause.”
Sangeeta Bin Jung, wife of Saad Bin Jung, a former Indian cricketer, and mother to youngsters Zoha and Naaz, says that to protect one’s confidence, it is necessary to take precautions. “Having a daughter myself, I know how dangerous the world can get. They are young and vulnerable to unnecessary comments, even if they are sorted and have their head on their shoulders. My daughter has spent her formative years abroad, and still, I’ve always told her to be cautious, as no matter how smart or private you are, there’s no match for perverts out there. Shweta Bachchan Nanda has done what any celeb mother would do.”
When headlines such as ‘Navya Nanda parties with friends, wild’ are flashed, the case is not contained to just celebrity offspring and issues of privacy, but is also about objectifying, ridiculing and policing women’s bodies. Uma Chigurupati, chairperson of Hyderabad Heritage Marathon, agrees with Shweta Nanda, and says that it may be harming children’s self-esteem when people comment on aspects of the personality.
She adds, “It is very unfortunate. Some people go as far as saying that the girl was wearing a ‘provocative’ dress. Our society is not equally open minded.”
