One man’s meat is another man’s poison. Likewise, one man’s or woman’s or their opinion is another’s intolerance.
In a world, where everyone is entitled to have an opinion, what is wrong with not having one, I ask? Or maybe, if you have one, what’s wrong in not sharing it with another?
It so happened that at an event Sushant Singh Rajput was asked by a journalist to give two cents about his thoughts on the ongoing altercation between India and Pakistan over Kulbhushan Singh Jadhav. Sushant said, that he would like to refrain from commenting on it.
“I think, somebody should not give his or her opinion, if he or she is not really well-informed about the topic. Because it is a sensitive thing… To say yes condemn or no condemn, one needs to be responsible enough to know the facts related to it.”
Was his stand of refraining from commenting upon it wrong?
Well, not really. He did so while putting his case in point that he doesn’t have full knowledge about the matter and wouldn’t want to comment on it based on his partial understanding. Which is a good thing, right? At least, he ducked a possible foot-in-mouth-moment he could have had, given his little knowledge about the matter which in his own words is sensitive.
But the probing didn’t end there. His statement about having little knowledge about a matter of national interest was questioned too. He, at first, politely refused to comment because it is not his place to comment on it. Had he been a politician or a public servant or an activist or someone who hails from the field dealing with the matter at hand, then the question of him not being updated on the current affairs would have been justified or his opinion a necessity. But since he is an actor and a public figure, representing the Entertainment industry, how does he become obligated to have the mastery of a bureaucrat?
When it comes to public figures and celebrities hailing from the Entertainment world, a lot is expected of them. One thinks it’s likely of them to know and comment upon anything and everything that’s happening around. They are often, on public forums, asked about something totally unrelated to their craft.
But, I want to ask, why? Is it written somewhere? Is there an obligation as such? Is this some unsaid rule that comes with fame?
And, even if he does have a viewpoint about the matter, it is his right to exercise whether or not he wants to express it out loud on a public platform. But if Sushant or any celebrity were to do that, he or she would have to do it while owning the full responsibility of his or her words after having the know-how of the matter.
It was not long ago Amitabh Bachchan said on the Gurmehar Kaur row,
“My opinion on the matter is personal and if I share it with you, it will become public.”
And, Shah Rukh Khan had once said how a celebrity’s view is reported with added opinions and he rues the day he had expressed what he truly felt.
“Whenever something happens somewhere, they are like, ‘Why isn’t Shah Rukh Khan commenting on it?’ But I don’t want to. I am an actor, main koi vocal leader thodi na hoon.’ (I’m not a leader who is very vocal.)”
And, we quite agree with that. It is one’s personal stance. Like one has a right to have an opinion, one even has the right not to say it out loud. And, not knowing about everything is ok. Because it is not their domain. Had they been asked something related to their industry, where they have a certain obligation to take a stance, then the whole hue and cry would have made sense.
One thing, all must keep in mind that being an influencer comes with a lot of responsibilities, and one needs to be careful about the words they use. But there’s no rule inscribed in stone, that they HAVE to speak their minds out loud every time.
What do you think about the whole matter? Let us know in the comments below if you want to, because like I said, everyone has a right to have an opinion and along with it, the right to not express it.