When Salman Khan speaks, everyone sits up and takes notice. Gen-Z has perhaps not seen Salman’s angrier side that much in the last few years. At least I hadn’t. But last Saturday, the OG Salman was back and how! I think this is the most he has spoken about an issue in a long, long time. The actor’s outburst on paparazzi and trolling, and how female actors continue to be targeted online on the Weekend Ka Vaar episode of Bigg Boss 20 was much-needed. I can’t think of any other actor from the film industry who could address troll culture like Salman did on Bigg Boss.
Salman took note of the constant personal attacks on Bigg Boss and then linked them to the troll culture that has worsened in the film industry. In the show, the audience can see who is trolling, but on social media, the trolls attack from behind faceless social media accounts. The actor slammed the paparazzi in particular for encouraging these trolls and feeding the negativity, calling out the ridiculous trend of taking inappropriate pictures and videos of female actors. Salman also noted how keyboard warriors make fun of an actor’s weight after their pregnancy, which is totally unnecessary. Fans thought it was aimed at the recent trolling of actor Katrina Kaif over her post-pregnancy weight gain. Salman said, “Pregnancy mein everyone puts on some weight, jab wo filmo me wapas aa jaygi, wo fit ho jayengi (Everyone puts on weight after getting pregnant. When she returns to films, she will get back in shape). She wants to spend time with her family.”
But that was not all. Salman displayed incredible self-awareness in speaking about the trolling that he has received, too. Be it his films not working at the box office, or constant questions on his weight and fitness, or speculations about his hairstyle- Salman has seen the reels, read the comments and chosen to respond. He took off his shirt, showed his buff body and looked straight at the camera to address trolls- “Troll kar ab!” This rare cadence by a star of Salman’s stature is what makes him stand out. By bluntly acknowledging his age and addressing how the negative comments have reached him, he is at once snatching the power away from trolls and saying yes, he is just as human and the human body is not made of stone. It will change, and as much as it hard to accept, the fact remains the same. “It doesn’t make a difference to me, but so many get depressed over it,” he said.
Salman has been in the industry for decades and has seen enough not to take himself too seriously. He knows what works in his films and follows that template. It has worked for years and now, not so much. The same goes for his persona, too. His career has seen the biggest highs and lows; there have been threats to his life even, and yet the actor takes a stand when it’s most needed. Salman deservedly took note on the kind of negativity and trash-talk that fuels online discourse and reminded viewers that it is high time they take note of it themselves. The more we, as social media users, interact and engage with such negative chatter about public personalities, the more these trolls will be encouraged. Who are they? What do they get from the constant criticism that is spewed online? It is not important to know as much as it is to ignore and rethink how trolling culture has become the new trend. Salman says enough is enough. It needs to come to an end. I agree completely
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