A little introduction about me. I’m from Vijayawada, where Telugu cinema worship is often said to have originated. So I know what I’m saying. Just listen to me.
For many of us who grew up Indian, especially Telugu, cinema wasn’t just entertainment. It was our language, our first love, and the way we learned to understand emotions. We don’t speak Telugu to each other normally; we speak in movie dialogues. That is our language. Movie stars are not just actors; they are gods.
For the longest time, I even had a parasocial relationship with Raveena Tandon, when I was told by my friends that I looked like her. Even to this day, 30 years after the fact, my friends message me when they see her interview or when they hear her 90’s songs.
So let me be clear upfront. This is not a personal attack on Jr. NTR, Telugu cinema, or people who admire them. I understand that respect for art, legacy, and cultural icons is valid. It’s a subjective emotion.
What I’m questioning is what happens when admiration turns into excessive fandom.
I’m talking about the kind that spills into disorder and public embarrassment for an entire community trying to live respectfully in a shared society.
Allow me to explain.
A few years ago, when Balayya’s movies were released in America, fans started driving around in cars and showing up in front of movie theaters with flags plastered with his face on them. Then came the breaking of coconuts in celebration, the same way we do in front of temples to mark the beginning of something auspicious.
Slowly things have started escalating. During the Devara U.S. premiere, fans trashed theaters with confetti, water bottles, and litter. Screenings had to be suspended for cleanup. During the Guntur Kaaram release, Mahesh Babu fans threw papers and bottles at the screens. Theaters halted shows and called the cops.
Fans from rival hero gangs spend days on Reddit, Discord, and Twitter trending hashtags, defending every announcement and negative comment, and organizing offline rallies.
Hey, I understand regional pride. Trust me, I’m a huge fan of my people simply because they’re from where I was raised. So I get it. I’m deeply proud of my Indian brothers and sisters, whether they’re in India or part of the diaspora. My friend recently told me how he attended a wedding, where second generation Indian American kids were chanting slogans showing off their Balayya pride.
I went to Egypt last month, and every street vendor kept saying, “India number one,” and my heart honestly swelled with pride.
Apparently our Indian heroes have had fans globally for a while now. Raj Kapoor’s movies were loved by Russians. Jr. NTR has a cult following in Japan. And Amitabh Bachchan is popular in Uzbekhistan LOL.
Jr. NTR carries a dynastic legacy. His grandfather wasn’t just a film star. He was a cultural, mythic figure in Andhra and Telangana, portraying gods and folk heroes on screen and later leading a major political party. BTW, below is the guy I am supposed to be fanning over.
Telugu heroes produce mass entertainers with emotional drama and high-energy dances — a complete escape for people living tough lives. This includes romancing extremely fair-skinned heroines (mostly imported from North India), half-naked in songs, paired with heroes old enough to be their fathers. But that’s a whole other essay.
What I’m here to talk about is a recent video of fans of the War 2 movie raising slogans, showering milk on posters, and exploding fireworks at a Dallas movie theater. Its gone viral on social media for a few days now, even though it might not be recent. This video has people filling up the comment section calling for stricter immigrant policies and police intervention.
At a time when sentiment against Indians and H1Bs is already raging, aren’t we supposed to be doing what we’re good at, rather than continuing disruptive behavior in the name of love for our hometown heroes?
Here’s the uncomfortable truth. When these incidents happen outside India, they don’t exist in a vacuum. Most of us Indian Americans, including Telugus are quietly building our lives here and contributing our share to the community at large. While many of us trying to literally be the thoughtful neighbor and the responsible citizen, such outsized reactions and fanfare might disrupt the delicate social fabric of the cultural context that we are building.
Because for those outside of this fandom bubble, the mobilization of celebrity worship instead of addressing urgent community issues at hand might damage and overshadow the broader Indian American identity.
See, even in America we see fan frenzy. American crowds at blockbusters like Deadpool & Wolverine have thrown food at screens or yelled through scenes causing issues. There are other Indian groups that are also called out for similar stuff.
It’s not surprising that cinema serves as a cultural anchor for immigrants. After all, it keeps our sense of home alive. But the intensity of fandom, especially when it crosses into public harassment or social chaos can be deeply jarring in a diaspora context.
And let’s be real. Gultes take the cake in this kind of disorder. The most recent example is Niddhi Agerwal being mobbed by fans in a mall in India during movie promotions.
Where are your so-called demigods in all this? Have they ever come out and asked you show restraint or not engage in these fan wars? Or have they left us to police ourselves while they bask in applause?
If fandom is costing us dignity, perspective, and peace, then it’s no longer devotion. Please consider how our intense fan culture might be harming community integration without adding any real value to the films themselves. Moreover, fandom that demands excess, chaos, or confrontation in the name of “respect” isn’t honoring legacy. It’s dishonoring it, isn’t it?
Here’s my plea. Please continue to love your star. Just don’t lose yourself in the process. Who are you, really, when the movie ends? I hope your only legacy isn’t that you were a hero’s fan. Loyalty matters, yes, but not at the expense of your identity. In this attention economy, your focus is currency. Guard it. And honestly, are we confusing a film star’s honor with our own self-worth? LOL.
And what’s up with the naval gazing? For the uninitated, a mockery of the typical Telugu movie scene where the woman is so hot, you can literally cook an egg on her belly.
And brother, one thing I will never ask you to stop. Your memes. Keep them coming. 😂
Nobody does Gulte humor like a fellow Gulte. This is my dying declaration on the subject.
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Background
Once upon a time, I had created a Youtube series called: ALTBollywood: Comic Relief By Fekta Kapur, where we were diving into a no-holds-barred roast of Bollywood and Tollywood (my Gulte brothers!) celebrities – their fashion choices, movie selections, and everything in between. Unfortunately, I lost the channel to copyright strikes.
However there’s more to what I do, find out HERE.
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Disclaimer
Welcome to another episode of ALTBollywood – Not Your Average OTT Content – Comic Relief by Fekta Kkkkkapur!
Today, we’re diving into a no-holds-barred roast of Bollywood celebrities – their fashion choices, movie selections, and everything in between. Buckle up because it’s about to get hilarious!
Oh, and if you’re curious whether Fekta Kapur has a secret alter ego, you might just find out HERE.
Before we jump into the fun, take a moment to read the long disclaimer below. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!
Disclaimer:
This is all in good fun, so please don’t take it seriously. Our intention is purely to entertain, not to offend.
Copyright Disclaimer:
Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for fair use for purposes such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is legally permitted and often leans in favor of non-profit, educational, or personal use.
Exceptions to Infringement Under the Copyright Act, 1957:
As per Section 52 of the Copyright Act, 1957, certain uses of copyrighted material are allowed without the owner’s authorization. This includes:
– Fair dealing with any work (excluding computer programs) for:
– Personal or private use, including research
– Criticism or review
– Reporting of current events or lectures delivered in public
Now that we’ve got that out of the way – let’s get roasting! 🔥🎭