Social media, which only a few years ago was little more than a recreational and social means of communication, has gradually turned into a powerful tool for public opinion. Amongst the most influential personalities molding political thought in this field are Indian celebrities.
From film stars to cricketers and even musicians, the list is long of celebrities in India using social media to raise their political rhetoric, connect with fans on issues of the day, and even influence opinion in elections in some instances.
In this article, we deliver into the intriguing dynamics that make Indian celebrities social media usage for political purposes significant and why their voices count in the socio-political landscape of the country.
The Power of Celebrity Endorsements in Politics
One of the most significant ways in which Indian Celebrities wield political influence is through endorsement. Indian celebrities, Bollywood movie stars, and cricket players are like gods in India; thus, their views on social issues, governmental policies, and political leaders have considerable influence among millions of fans. Social media channels such as Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook allow them to reach their fan bases directly, and they can send messages and opinions straight to the fans’ minds right away and without filters.
Indian Celebrities also tend to openly campaign during election seasons. In this regard, several top acting stars and actresses have publicized support for the present government in the last elections of 2014 and in 2019. Therefore, public support for a political leader by a celebrity can sway the opinion of his fans, particularly an undecided one or an one with little political affiliations.
Celebrities endorsements are also seen in these
Celebs tweeting and posting messages about certain politicians or party allegiance, among which posts regarding certain candidates may also be noticed on these two platforms Instagram and Twitter.
Attendance of election rally: Other celebrities tend to take part in more events, with Indian celebrities participating in rally support also at campaigning and rally events in other words attending rallies supporting elections and their policies too.
Affects Public’s View Regarding an Election : This is due to extensive usage – Celebrity endorsements that add popularity to a particular political ideology make the voters form opinion on elections.
Indian Celebrities and Social Media Activism
While endorsements are an important feature of political discourse, Indian celebrities also take up social activism on social media, calling attention to critical issues in the political and social spheres. These may range from issues of gender equality, environmental conservation, and even human rights violations.
For example, Priyanka Chopra, the movie actress, uses her social networking very frequently to bring about a social cause. This could include women’s rights, children’s welfare, or the environment-related issues, much like Anushka Sharma and Aamir Khan in Bollywood and Sachin Tendulkar of cricket.
It is through such activism that Indian celebrities bring to the fore those issues that might otherwise never see the light of the day. With their millions of followers on social media, the messages reach far and wide, and so much influence creates action-from donation, volunteering, and sometimes, even policy-making changes.
However, celebrity activism through social media has received criticism. Some of the stars have been criticized as choosy in terms of what they support because they choose issues that will not attract political attention. Such actions may jeopardize their careers. Despite such controversies, the trend remains strong and celebrity activism continues to influence India’s political and social landscape.
Political Criticism and Backlash
Most Indian celebrities use their media platforms to support political parties and social causes. Some of them use social media to criticize the government policies and the leaders. Most of these criticisms attract great media attention and backlash from the political supporter and even some government officials.
For example, Swara Bhaskar is an actress who has been vocal in the criticism of many governmental policies, especially those that deal with human rights and civil liberties. Her social media posts have become a point of much debate among her fans and the general public. Kangana Ranaut is an actress who has been vocal in support of the ruling government, engaging in political discourse and attacking opposition leaders.
This kind of engagement underscores the dual role Indian Celebrities play in political discourse. Some use their influence to promote policies and leaders, while others are a check, pointing out injustices or wrongdoings perceived in the system. This makes the political debate in India more diverse and nuanced.
While it’s a good thing for political voices being heard, social media also has its ugly side when it comes to political criticism. Stars and celebrities who give their dissident opinions usually get hammered online with trolls and bullying and worse, threats to their safety and security. Some stars think twice before showing their politics because of repercussions that do not only target them but also their careers.
Indian Celebrities Joining Politics
Indian Celebrities’ influence over politics does not merely entail social media endorsements and activism. On the contrary, many of them, years ago, have made full-time switches from entertainment to politics using their star value to capture electoral constituencies. This bodes well specially in regional politics, since movie stars and sports persons enjoy an even stronger direct rapport with the people.
One of the most significant instances is actor-turned-politician Rajinikanth, who has millions of fans in Tamil Nadu. Though he was going to contest the 2021 state elections, he has retreated from the idea recently as he has some health issue. But his intention of entering politics raised quite an argument over the contribution celebrity can make towards the policy. Actress Hema Malini and actor Shatrughan Sinha were successful politicians as members of parliament.
The political success of Indian Celebrities can be traced back to mass appeal that enables connecting to a cross-section of the population. Fame and established credibility give them attention for their campaigns and an easy win at the voters’ level, even in the absence of prior political experience. It raises some very important questions about celebrity politics and whether fame in itself is enough to make one eligible to hold a public office.
The Two-Sided Sword of Social Media Influence
The increasing presence of Indian Celebrities in the political sphere is reflective of a change in the media environment of India. Social media has provided an avenue through which celebrities can express themselves, connect with their followers, and sway public opinion on various issues of political and social interest. Indian celebrities have been able to extend their influence far beyond the scope of their professional field-the entertainment industry-through activities such as supporting candidates for political office, promoting social causes, and even running for political office.
That’s not without its downsides, however. Increased Indian celebrity political involvement leads further to arguments over whether celebrity endorsement of politics is ethical or whether social media activism has an element of selectiveness to it, and to which extent one should beware of online backlash. To put it briefly, however strong the hand celebrities may wield over the narration of the politics, that is nothing short of matched by that same public through critical and well-informed decision making.
In the final analysis, celebrity and politics in India is a complicated and ever-changing phenomenon. For the more indispensable social media gets, Indian celebrities are increasingly going to make themselves heard in all political rhetoric and even how we conceive politics or the way we attach ourselves to the world.