Amitabh Bachchan was probably the first most sincere celebrity blogger in Bollywood who used the platform to connect with his fans and update them on his activities, thoughts and interact with them regularly. No wonder then that he had innumerable followers who would start their day with reading what the revered Big B had to say. But apparently there was one errant follower who used the ability to comment on the blog to vent out his negativity. He would leave derogatory remarks that would cross the line of decency and were abusive. Big B mentions in his blog, "There is a serious effort by a member that writes and comments on this blog to use language and expression that is abusive, filthy and utterly disgusting." The unrelenting person would even send messages that were downright vulgar on Big B's phone and provoked the star to take corrective measures. Amitabh Bachchan reported the matter to the authorities and now any attempt from this miscreant would come under legal cyber space action.

Shah Rukh Khan had the foresight to show the ugly side of media in Phir Bhi Dil Hai Hindustani a decade back. Ram Gopal Varma thought bigger with Rann early this year. And just a few days back, Aamir Khan went full throttle with Peepli [Live] . What each of the three films touched upon was the insensitivity that was put on display, especially by broadcasting media when it came to questioning an individual. On camera. LIVE. A tricky situation indeed, especially when the camera is rolling. How does an individual react when he is put in the line of fire with million prying eyes ready to listen to that byte which could make or break the situation? Especially so when the celebrity happens to be a film personality, easily the most recognizable of all. The one who lives in the world of glamour and wants to die there. The one who revels in all the attention around him and could very well perish in the same. No wonder, a Katrina Kaif can't take it any more when cameras and mikes are thrust on her face for that one byte about her romantic life. Or a Salman Khan doesn't mind taking on the media heads on - even if that happens alarmingly close to his own film's release - by daring reporters to ask a question about his personal life. In this week's 'Reflections', let's ponder if broadcasting media is going a little too far in it's quest for being the first one up to break that news? Is a reporter with a camera and mike indeed misusing his position and unfailingly coming up with those unflattering queries that are not just far away from being decent but also below the belt? Is there a misplaced belief that a celebrity would revel in anything and everything written about him regardless of all boundaries being crossed? Let's explore 'Kya aapka XYZ heroine ke saath scene chal raha hai?' Ok, so it is expected that majority of film celebrities are immune to personal queries. Rightly so because actors are expected to carry their acting hat even while attending press conferences and other dos. Also, with advent of 200 news/entertainment channels, queries like these pretty much fill day in life of a celebrity. Par kab tak? Agreed that a star may be fine with such persistent queries but can he be expected to answer the same question with same emotion practically every hour? He or she is expected to become irritated at times, lose temper or just break down at a particular juncture. It's just human. The same happened to Katrina Kaif recently and one can't blame her for that. Now the same could also happen during an interview being conducted for the print media. However, there is still a margin for error there. A break down could result in an attempt for peace by both the parties. There is a possibility of a pause. There are stories that can be re-written. Questions could perhaps be drafted a little differently. Worse, the exchange of words - if at all - could be censored or totally eliminated. But does any of that work in broadcasting medium? Especially when what is being captured is broadcast live? A recorded conversation could still take a safer route but something which is live is for the keeps. So what does a celebrity do in that case? Clinch his fist and stay calm, continue to smile in front of the camera so that no awkward moments is there for millions to see, stay on to be polite despite the seething anger or act plain indifferent even though a query requires a rap on the knuckles? No wonder, any slip of tongue or twitch in an eyebrow results in a breaking news. Here is how! Yeah baby, that's breaking news for you A press conference is on. Stars have occupied the stage. And for that brief moment, the superstar out there happens to look the other way. Just for that single moment. Perhaps the one where he may have been called upon by someone. However, what he does for those 5 seconds turns out to be that breaking news which would keep the channel occupied for the next five hours. Here is how: 'Kya hero hai apne co-star se naraaz' 'Hero ne dikhayi apne co-star se berukhi' 'Hero aur heroine mein hui ansuni, raaz khula bhari media ke saamne' Those five seconds will now start appearing in repeat mode minute after minute with a running commentary spiced up with ingredients that would have been put together with every passing hour. There would be circles drawn around the hero's face. Statements appearing in bold with zoom in and out would occupy the screen while a vociferous voice be heard in the background around how stars are unhappy with each other. All due to the fact that someone out there perhaps screamed 'Hey superstar' from some distance out there. Of course, what is being stated above may or may not have really happened. However, what it aims at conveying is the reflection of the today's time when breaking news has intruded a celebrity's life in such a manner that there is absolutely nothing that is kept secret at all. But how about some decency in the manner a celebrity is approached? Are decency and respect for an individual passe? This is for the students who are reading this feature: Place: School/college assembly. Principal announcing on stage: 'Hey you XYZ, in your last couple of exams you didn't manage good marks. Don't you think you are a disgrace to your parents? And this is for the working professionals who are reading this feature: Place: An MNC get together with a thousand odd employees CEO, while addressing the crowd: 'Hey you XYZ, you have been an underperformer for last 18 months. Don't you think you deserve to be fired?' Now both these questions are perfectly fine as long as they are spoken to an individual in a 1-0-1 manner. But in public? Naah, certainly not and I am sure no one would want it that way. 'Bhari biraadari mein be-izzati? No ways!' But why do we secretly smile when a celebrity is questioned on these lines on camera? In public. For public. Live. 'Aapki pichli 4 filmein flop ho gayi hain. Kya aapko aisa nahi lagta ki aapki wajah se producers ko bahaut nuksaan ho raha hai?' Again, a valid question but does it deserve to be broadcast live? Can't there be a restraint where a recorded statement is made rather than a celebrity being put under the dock where he has just a couple of seconds to think about the reply? Or perhaps given an option where he opts not to reply? However, for a broadcasting professional, any of the three responses are good enough to make for that breaking news, just because the moment has been captured live! Celebrity says 'yes' to the question? Flash on TV - 'Superstar ne admit kiya ki unki wajah se producers hue barbaad' Celebrity says 'no' to the question? Flash on TV - 'Chaar flops dene ke baad bhi superstar ne kiya producers ki barbaadi se inkaar' Celebrity says 'nothing'? Flash on TV - 'Ghamand mein choor superstar ne media se feraa moon; kuch nahi tha kehne ko toh saadh li chuppi' Poor celebrity, in his next live interview, he would better opt for saying 'yes' or 'no'. It is still a better way out, isn't it? Just think!

One struggles to remember that in the current generation, when was the last time when a top line director managed to work with four top actresses in his first four films? Though one may continue to ponder over the thought, the fact remains that young Siddharth Anand could well be the lone man standing for that record. He started off with Preity Zinta when she was at the top of the game in Salaam Namaste followed it up with Rani Mukherjee in Ta Ra Rum Pum, soon moved to a rising star Deepika Padukone in Bachna Ae Haseeno and made a further progress with Priyanka Chopra in soon to be released Anjaana Anjaani. He must be considering himself one lucky director, isn't it? "Of course I do feel lucky", gleams lucky when told about this record, "Though when it comes to men, I have worked with Saif in my first two films and followed it up with Ranbir for my next two, I have worked with different leading ladies every time. Somehow I feel I have been spoilt with so much of luxury being made available to me." Siddharth truly believes that he has been fortunate to get a nod from each of the young women whenever he approached them for a part. "In my head, I have always been sure that who is the one suited most for the part. However, all credit to my girls for making their choice. After all they were more experienced that me and knew better if they suited the role or not. Also, they were the ones who had to think more on whether they would be pull off a role or not, as they are the ones who knew their strengths and limitations." Still, it appears that the adage of 'first choice nodding in agreement' proved true for Siddharth as he didn't have to face any challenges w.r.t. leading ladies agreeing to being a part of his projects. "I worked with all of them when they were doing wonderful in their career and could have opted to work with whomsoever they would have wanted", Siddharth says fondly, "Preity came into Salaam Namaste when she had just done Veer Zaara. Still, I had the belief that she would be able to pull off a role that was totally different from what she had done in the past. Then Rani came into Ta Ra Rum Pum in an all new chic avtar when she had played far more rooted roles in Bunty Aur Babli, Veer Zaara and Black." He continues, "Deepika had done Om Shanti Om and many filmmakers approached her with roles. Still, she worked in Bachna Ae Haseeno because she believed in it. As for Priyanka, she had Fashion and Dostana behind her. The world was at her feet. However, it was Anjaana Anjaani to which she gave a nod." When told about the lucky streak that Siddharth has been enjoying, producer Sajid Nadiadwala says with a laugh, "Well, that should only work for me and Anjaana Anjaani further. I have worked with Deepika (Housefull), Rani (Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega) and Preity (Har Dil Jo Pyaar Karega, Jaan-E-Mann) in the past. Mujhse Shaadi Karogi with Priyanka had been a hit at the box office too. Now that she has stepped into Anjaana Anjaani, it should lead to double the celebrations with Siddharth's lucky streak added as well." Well, some men have all the luck!

The first shock of looking at Salman Khan is that he is no way closer to his character Chulbul Pandey in his upcoming film Dabangg. It's only when you hear him talk that his many dimensions come to the forefront. Its five minutes into our conversation and Khan knocks me off with his dare-devil answers. No, he ain't a pro-wrestler with a torso that looks as if it's been inflated with an air pump. Oh no. But he does sport his famous silver turquoise bracelet on his arm; his hair side parted like we see in many of his films and his full sleeve black shirt showing off his shiny cufflinks which all goes to say that today, the actor looks dangerously demure. But then, he's also Salman Khan, although it takes another five minutes before I accept that this must be true. Even then, this realisation comes only because I know Salman is the leading man in the film and that Chulbul Pandey is, indisputably, the leading man too. So where's the pretty boy with the sardonic smile? He's gone from being the up-and-coming young talent, talked of in the same breath as Amitabh Bachchan, to being a Bollywood hell-raiser tooling around town in his black SUV with a fully paid-up entourage wearing gold chains, to the actor who threw it all away when it came to his personal relationships. But why do we care today for a man who has been there done that? Why do we care about a man who is forty plus and still has attitude and style which gives birth to lethal acting prowess? There is one good reason - Salman Khan. UK's Harrow Observer columnist and Bollywood Hungama's London correspondent gets the concession of meeting the actor, who has inspired hundreds, advised thousands, loved millions but respected only one thing: his acting. And when Dabangg releases, you just won't regret the fondness and fascination for a man who has taken all the above in his stride. Salman Khan, you're unstoppable. "Chulbul is totally unpredictable" Why would I want to be a part of anything similar to Wanted? It's strange when the media questions me about Dabangg being the sequel to Wanted. I couldn't understand the character when I first started playing it. I couldn't understand how one could get into emotion and from emotion get into comedy and from comedy get into action. It was a different role compared to any of my previous roles. Once I started playing the character, I think it was a lot of fun because Chulbul was totally unpredictable.  "Chulbul is different because of the moustache" I knew that people in UP-Bihar keep moustaches to look rougher, tougher, and more mature. For them it's the symbol of 'mardangi' (manhood). I had just come out of Veer with a clean shaven look with long hair. I saw that people on the sets too had moustaches and I thought that all my life, I've had a clean shaven look. I tried to sport the moustache but wasn't too convinced. That's when Sonakshi Sinha and Vinod Khanna told me that the moustache looked good on me and different. It suited the character. As soon as I finished my first shot, I decided not to take the moustache off. It's a strange thing but the moustache does lift the way a character is written. Chulbul is different because of the moustache. "I believe I'm the true Robinhood" In the film, my character believes that he is the true Robinhood of that locality where he lives. He steals from the rich and gives to the poor. He is still funny but tough too. He is mad but not insane. He is like Robinhood but an Indian one (laughs). "There is no difference between my fans and me" I am no different from my fans because my fans and friends are not my 'chamchas' or 'yes men'. They tell me straight out if they don't like anything about my trailer or my role or anything about me in the film. But the fact that they got excited seeing the promo was the signal for me that Chulbul was going to be a hit. I also showed the promo to everyone in my house and they all loved it. Even when Veer released with a great promo but didn't find its good luck at the box office because of many people who didn't listen. But Dabangg is bang on. "Sonakshi has the penchant of being perfect" Action not backed with romance is meaningless. That's where Sonakshi Sinha comes in Dabangg. She is looking gorgeous in the film. I know Sonakshi's family very well. We are old friends and I know her potential. She will go a very long way after Dabangg. A lot of people look very good in a saree. Sridevi looks gorgeous, Shilpa Shetty looks beautiful in a saree, Katrina looks amazing in a saree, Sushmita Sen looks superb too in a saree. I think not many actresses look sexy in a saree and Sonakshi does look like one. You also need to know that the audiences haven't seen her before. So the first look of Sonakshi was always going to be a winner all the way. "I have learnt the word called 'enthusiasm' from Sonakshi" I used to have a lot of fervour, passion and enthusiasm in me while I was Sonakshi's age. Today, unfortunately, I lack it. So when I see someone so enthusiastic working with me, I don't compete with that co-star. I compete with enthusiasm. Perhaps that's the reason why you see me so involved and energetic in Dabangg. "It's not difficult for Abhinav to come out from the comparisons with Anurag" Abhinav Kashyap is a really good guy. I think he writes very well. He knows that whole backdrop. He has worked on small screen. He doesn't waste time and money and he has had the script of Dabangg for the longest time and has worked really hard on it. We were fortunate that the 'Khan Brothers' picked up the script of Dabangg before anybody else could. After what Abhinav has done, I think people will stop comparing him to his brother Anurag. "Arbaaz makes me proud" It's not just about Arbaaz. Be it anybody, when the producers put in money, they put in their life into the project. They need to recover the money and keep track of all the accounts. Arbaaz has over the years learnt the trait from Sohail and many others with whom he has worked. Today I can say that I am really proud of him. Earlier, the stakes were not that high but now-a-days the stakes are very high and everybody is more bang on and agile on scripts, timing of the release, how much the film will recover and what kind of opening the film will take. Arbaaz has got all that sorted. "I will show Dabangg to my celebrity friends" Marketing has gone to another level all together. In the papers you see which actor has showcased his film to his celebrity friends. Why not? If it helps the film and if it helps spread the good word about the film, why won't I show it. I am planning to show Dabangg to few of my celebrity friends. I remember the last time I showed Kyun Ki to Aamir Khan and he said that he didn't like it because he found that the film was very depressing. I too felt the same way. That's what I like. I like honesty and not all the friends coming up to me and saying 'Yes, we loved the film'. I didn't think Tere Naam would work but it did. So you never know what fate has in store for you on Friday. "Tere Naam sequel can be made or not depends on Satish Kaushik" Tere Naam for me was the easiest thing to do. If you travel to small towns, that's how they behave. I behaved like that in the second half. The second half was a complete loser. Even when I was publicising Tere Naam, I told people not to get inspired by my character in the second half because today, people take your performance home and behave accordingly. They try to. I told my fans that if one girl goes away from your life, another one can replace her. It's not that difficult. I think Tere Naam sequel needs to be tighter and it all depends on Satish Kaushik whether he wants to make it or not. "Twitter has given me a new stage to perform" I tweet when I have something to tweet. But when I am not doing anything, I follow my fans on twitter. Most of the tweets I do are without taking the names of the people who've tweeted me. I do not tweet for the fun of it. I follow my fans and try to reply them. I also like posting some pictures on twitter and that's the only thing I do. Twitter has given me a new stage to perform and I am really happy. I can say today that Dabangg isn't just a movie; it's turned into a movement.