If fans could, they would hand Bollywood celebrities Oscars for tying a shoelace on their own. I mean, the bar is so damn low. Celebrities are hailed as heroes for not mistaking red carpets for yoga mats and using cutlery instead of lightsabers at dinner. If they manage to utter “please” and “thank you” without summoning a press conference, they’re practically sainted. It’s like if they hold the door for the elderly, they are knighted.
Similarly, in the recently held Ram Mandir Pran Prathishtha which was attended by a number of Bollywood celebrities, Ranbir Kapoor was spotted having his arms around Alia Bhatt from behind in an effort to protect her from the maddening crowd. This act was hailed on social media as the ultimate romantic gesture.
the way ranbir kapoor is protecting alia bhatt <3 ; look how he’s holding her 🥹🫀 pic.twitter.com/EdZkz7KqMR
— 🎞️ (@softiealiaa) January 22, 2024
However, people were quick to call this out as the bare minimum and nothing to put the actor on a pedestal. Any decent man – a father, a brother or a friend – would use their privilege of being a man and protect a woman they care about in a public space which could be unsafe for them. Here’s what some of them said:
How do you all glamorise even the most basic things that celebrities do, which are essentially what most people do out there every day?
— Dr Shaurya Garg (@DrShauryaGarg) January 22, 2024
That is most basic thing to do in crowded places ?
— Mukesh (@mikejava85) January 23, 2024
bhai yeh chalte fire crowd me sabhi ladke apni female friends, siblings, mom, gf, wife ke liye karte hain.
bare minimum nahi hai kya yeh? https://t.co/lquCNkdpEf
— CA Subham Agrawal (@ca_whotravels) January 23, 2024
Because social norms are so low, minimum behavior is often viewed as the standard of excellence or high points.
Even though I adore Ranbir and alia wholeheartedly, but writing something so basic makes me consider how little we really expect from those around us. https://t.co/JiIdBg4ppE
— ꜱᴛᴀʀᴋ ❥ (@RaddaIncoming) January 22, 2024
kisi bhi bare minimum cheeze ko overhype kar dete hai yaar, ghumo kabhi mumbai local me apni gf/biwi ke sath kaise protect karna hota hai apne aap sikh jaaoge 🤷🏻♂️ https://t.co/8OXC4zjkKl
— Avee. (@naa_cheese_) January 22, 2024
Nothing new!
Travel in public transport or any crowded place,you will find many guys (gems) protecting their gf, wife or their mom,etc.
Even, some are those who protect a stranger girl so that she won't be touched inappropriately in busy places.
Stop hyping them!! https://t.co/uiKvrkADYx— Vardayini Saxena (@VardayiniSaxen2) January 23, 2024
These fandoms are absolute crap . Hyping bare minimum as a care. Any man will do the same for the ladies in his family and friends. https://t.co/zqsOMSeN6U
— Gumnaam (@not_so_soberr) January 23, 2024
Glamourising bollywoodiyas for these things which a normal man does for his family on a daily basis.
Is desh ki public hi ch***ya hai. https://t.co/fotM1COJmI
— Chirag (@igot10on10) January 23, 2024
Sorry but there is not anything special in that every brother husband father uncle does this to protect there family in crowd what's special in ranbir here https://t.co/s89wXihwOI
— Shilpa (@NarayanMhamal) January 23, 2024
Mera toxic ex b yahi karta tha💀💀
— deepi (@DeepikaShet1) January 22, 2024
Dost bhi krte hai itna toh
DU fest entry ke liye😭— Shivani (@meme_ki_diwani) January 23, 2024
It’s disheartening how men are sometimes praised for achieving the bare minimum in relationships. Opening a door or remembering a birthday shouldn’t earn a standing ovation. In a world striving for equality, let’s not celebrate mediocrity as heroism.