New Delhi: December has become a minefield for celebrities navigating public appearances. In the last fifteen days, celebrities have been mobbed in three separate incidents. The latest incident took place in Chennai on 28 December.
Tamil actor and politician Vijay was mobbed at the Chennai airport after he landed from Malaysia. The president of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), arrived at the airport late Sunday after attending the audio release event for his upcoming film Jana Nayagan. As he made his way toward the exit, a horde of fans surged forward to catch a glimpse of him, leading to commotion near his vehicle.
Vijay lost his footing and fell just moments before reaching his car. Security personnel immediately stepped in, lifting him up and escorting him safely into the vehicle. The actor did not sustain any visible injuries, and the situation was brought under control within seconds.
A similar incident occurred on 18 December, when actor Nidhhi Agerwal was mobbed at the launch event for the song ‘Sahana Sahana’ from her upcoming film The Raja Saab in Hyderabad. As she attempted to leave Lulu Mall, the venue of the launch, the crowd surrounded her, making it difficult for her to enter her car. Visibly shaken, the actor was rescued by her bouncer, who struggled to keep her safe from the crowd.
Three days after Agerwal’s experience, Samantha Ruth Prabhu faced a similar situation in Hyderabad. The actor was attending a store launch at Jubilee Hills on 21 December when an unprecedented crowd surrounded her. Footage from the incident shows a visibly uncomfortable Prabhu as the crowd attempted to push their way toward her.
Security personnel promptly surrounded her, forming a human shield as they guided her to the car.
Also Read: Mob fury at Bangladesh rock singer’s concert latest in a wave of attacks on art & culture
Concert fiascos
Unruly crowds did not just create ruckus in public spaces, but also at concerts. Haryanvi singer Pranjal Dahiya paused her recent live performance midway after audience members misbehaved. A video from the concert, which took place on 26 December began circulating on social media, showing how the 52 Gaj Ka Daman singer had to intervene due to an unruly crowd.
Audience members made offensive comments and tried to climb onto the stage, and created a ruckus at the venue. Dahiya can be seen firmly confronting a middle-aged man in the audience. She reminded him that she was young enough to be his daughter and urged everyone present to behave with dignity.
Earlier this month, singer Kailash Kher was in Gwalior to perform at a show on the occasion of late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s 101st birth anniversary. But spectators at the Gwalior Vyapar Mela Maidan created a nuisance, prompting the singer to temporarily walk off the stage. A section of fans enthusiastically jumped the barricades, rushing toward the stage for a closer look at the singer.
“I’m praising you all, and you are behaving like animals. Please don’t behave like animals. If anyone comes anywhere near our instruments, equipment, we’ll stop the show”, announced Kher on his microphone. But his words had no impact, and the situation failed to come under control.
He then walked off the stage to get everyone to calm down, saying it was necessary to diffuse the situation. Kher later returned to the stage and completed the concert.
(Edited by Insha Jalil Waziri)
Also Read: Indian states are competing to be the concert capital. Post Malone in Assam a turning point