The flip side of being famous

As lucrative as money and power may be, there are some people who are seeking something else. They want to be head-turners and steal the spotlight in a crowded room — feel the conversation stop when they enter. They want to be famous.

But there is a flip side to fame, that not not many people foresee while vying for it. It can change those around you and create trust issues, among other things. Entertainers around the world have shown us time and again that fame changes the lives of everyone around them. A big Bollywood veteran once confessed to me that he has not been able to fathom till date, whether it is he who changed after becoming famous or those around him.  

But eventually, like everything in life, fame is what you make of it. Unfortunately, people do not see fame in its entirety. They do not consider the pressures of constantly being in the public eye. Albert Einstein once said, “It is strange to be known so well and yet to be so lonely,” when asked about his tryst with fame.

I think Arvind Kejriwal of the Aam Aadmi Party is the latest victim of this fame. Fact is, he has been thrust into the limelight and there is so much pressure on him to live up to people’s expectations that it is overwhelming and therefore, has isolated him. From being a rational, cool-headed man, he has gone to become a person who is confused due to the ridiculously erratic directions he is being propelled in, thanks to his newfound fame.

The problem is that it will not just affect him, but also those around him, especially his voters. They will now think twice before making someone famous in such haste.