I am filled with sadness. I am distressed to see the vilification of our industry everyday on social media and on news channels. What saddens me more is that some members of the fraternity, who have made their living in this industry, are the ones actively encouraging or spreading such negativity.

Sure, there might be people in our industry and other industries too, who do drugs or have mental health issues, do you vilify them or do you help them? Every industry has its share of flaws which needs serious introspection. However, this vilification is a pandemic overshadowing the real one. No one is trying to find solutions or attempting to help anyone, instead they are busy pointing fingers which is just unfortunate.

We have been entertaining the country for years and when photo-ops, role models or endorsements are needed, these very stars and many other remarkable talents, who are being vilified are the first people to be approached. This concerted effort to demean the industry angers me. It is not coming from a place of genuine concern or with the intention of bringing change. As an Indian citizen, you can raise your voice and have differing opinions but this is a deliberate and motivated attack on a single industry.

Through the pandemic, while people were unable to step out of their homes, we have been completing post-production, shooting and trying our best to create content to entertain audiences. It is time to appreciate, not condemn or demean (us).

I believe, as do most of my colleagues and friends that the show must go on! We will keep on working and doing our job. A number of senior artistes and filmmakers have maintained a stoic silence in the past few weeks because they believe — this too shall pass! While I am hoping that it passes, I want to ask why is our industry being attacked in the Parliament (that too in such an unparliamentary manner by some respected members of the industry)? Why are we being so blatantly abused on social media by obvious hirelings? That too when we have many issues like increasing Coronavirus cases, an economic slowdown, border tensions with China, and of course, a concerted attempt to shut down some uncomfortably opinionated voices? What is the real intent behind this abuse? Have the nation’s entertainers become tools of diversion? What is the real agenda behind this unabated attack on our professional dignity and our passion towards our art? There are multiple theories on this but as advised by friends and colleagues, I will not delve into them here as they might be unfounded - just like all this vilification is.

As an industry, all we can do is to continue working hard and keep our audiences engaged, entertained and dazzled by what we create. I know this vilification is not from the real audiences. They love us. As do we.