Hands off SRK !

Shah Rukh Khan is no ordinary man. The Bollywood superstar, idolised by millions of cinegoers both in India and abroad, enjoys tremendous popularity and influence. His every move, on-screen and off it, is subject to scrutiny.

Anything he says or does is news, as is the case with celebrities of his stature. One could argue that it is part of the deal of being a public figure. But public figures have private lives as well. And what they choose to do in that domain is none of anybody’s business.

Which is why the legal notice served on the actor by an NGO - the National Organisation for Tobacco Eradication - for smoking during a T20 match in Mumbai is uncalled for. Sure, if Shah Rukh had lit up in a place where smoking was banned, there was every reason to haul him up. But he was in a private gallery and was not breaking any law by smoking a cigarette there. So what is the fuss all about?

It appears that the NGO has gone after the actor simply because he happens to be a celebrity and not entirely because of its commitment to the cause of tobacco eradication. There must have been many others who puffed a cigarette during the same match in question. Why have no notices been served on these ‘offenders’? This is not to suggest that smoking is fine. It is not. But smoking cigarettes is a personal choice that people make. As long as they are not breaking the rules - like smoking in prohibited areas - they cannot be penalised.

Sure, celebrities have a responsibility towards the public that puts them on a pedestal. But as long as they do not break the law, they are well within their rights to do exactly as they please in their private spheres. To argue that celebrities must watch what they say and do because they influence our choices and behaviour is to admit that we do not have minds of our own. We are responsible for our actions.

TimesOfIndia