If you’ve been actively following namma celebs on social media, chances are you’ve already gotten acquainted with their frequent Insta stories or Facebook statuses. Brushing away acts of vague elusiveness, Sandalwood stars are active social media users — giving their followers an inside (and often unfiltered) scoop into their real lives! A genuine intent to get up, close and “virtually” personal with fans or just going with the flow? We get the inside scoop from these starry users...
Gettin’ real
Actress Sharmiela Mandre, who plays a fun yet personal one-on-one quiz with her 21.9 K followers, once every 40 days through her official Twitter account, opines it’s essential for public figures to build a personal connect.
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“I think movie stars have a responsibility of keeping their fans in the know. A lot of baseless rumours and genuinely curious fans compel actors to get more open online — in a bid to offer a real picture. Which is why I go live on Twitter with an open quiz series where people are free to ask me questions pertinent to my professional and personal life. And when it’s just between a star and the fan, chances of information getting misconstrued are bleak. That really matters to public figures who often have to bear the brunt of misinterpreted facts. That said, social media platforms offer individuals irrespective of their professions to go ‘all holds no barred’, and I don’t see how actors will not benefit from it. Moreover, the questions are very interesting and open. It’s a fun thing to do where a rapport is built, and I think it’s a healthy channel and relevant to celebrities in 2017.”
Emphasising how the forum enables public personalities to break from a ‘typical image’, actress Samyukta Hornad, who sold her first painting through her official Instagram account adds, “There’s often an image that’s built around people from showbiz. But when it comes to social media, the forum offers actors like us to exhibit a streak or probably a side to our personality that fans otherwise would have no idea about. Also, considering how I’ve always called myself a creative artiste than just an actress, the forum has helped people understand my art better, on a more personal level. For instance, I recently put up a funny post about my dad and compared him to a hamster! It was light hearted, witty and something very tongue in cheek. I believe it also gives you an opportunity to have people know the real you.”
Sharmiela Mandre
Going the Bollywood way, actress Shwetha Srivatsav, who went the extra mile during her pregnancy days, got her baby bump inked, drawing a lot of attention online and off it. Speaking about always being open and her candid self online, Shwetha says, “I think I’ve always been a rule breaker. I entered the industry post marriage, when people around me kept hinting that it won’t work. I went on to be a lot more open about the way my body changed during my pregnancy and even got a little artsy with my bump! Social media that way has been a way to channel positivity and get lots of love from fans without say a middle-man. I believe, as people who can motivate and inspire youngsters, it’s our responsibility to be active and in turn, make ourselves seen and heard for the right and real reasons!”
All the world’s a stage: Actress Meghana Appaiah, who has changed her named to Sathvika, believes it’s perhaps the best way to build a brand image. “As an upcoming actress, it’s imperative for me to connect to the people who can make or break my image. Also, the more connected you are to your fans, the lesser are the chances of baseless rumours impacting them. I think it makes life convenient, for everyone.”
