Kareena Kapoor has taken a New Year resolution not to dance at high-profile weddings.
Her decision, she has said, is in the interest of her family’s prestige and fans since wedding dances don’t set a good example for a youth icon like her. While her co-stars in Bollywood might or might not endorse Bebo’s decision, Tollywood stars seem to have always stayed away from wearing the dancing shoes at high-profile weddings in Kolkata. Even most high-profile weddings in Bengal’s rural belt, where Tollywood stars are regarded as demigods, haven’t made headlines for considering the option of a Bengali star to do a jig.
But, Tollywood stars aren’t immune to the song-and-dance routine. Every award ceremony or even a film festival dinner party has been witness to live performances of our stars to both Bengali and Hindi hits. The growing popularity of Bengali serials has also ensured that viewers keep glued to their screens wherever their screen idols shake a leg. Though a Shah Rukh Khan has danced at the Mittal wedding in Kolkata itself, is it the prestige issue that has made our stars abstain?
Prosenjit Chatterjee isn’t amused when asked to elaborate. “Nobody in this world can have the courage to ask me to dance at a wedding. I rarely attend any function and dance,” he says. Sociologists feel that Kolkata and Mumbai’s difference in preferences stem from the cities’ cultural and financial backgrounds. “Mumbai, which has long started the trend of stars performing at marriages, has a cultural background that encourages dances at weddings. Moreover, the spending power also matters. Kolkata, in contrast, is happier with its intellectual identity that’s conservative in nature when it comes to weddings,” says
sociologist Ruby Sain. True, because even today, a even an Indian classical recital would be a more preferred choice for high-profile Bengali weddings that tries to lend an innovative touch. “Even yesteryear’s Tollywood stars haven’t embraced the idea because they also think the way other Bengalis do. Bashor ghore gaan bajnar shujog thakleo, amra aajo bhabte parina je kono obhinetri ke sekhane naacher jonnyo amontron janano jete pare. Yet, I do see a changing trend of imitating the Mumbai and Delhi dance
culture now.”
While jatras have huge takers since they offer the thrill of live interaction with the crowd and an opportunity to rake in the moolah, the urge to see the matinee idols perform no longer seems a far-fetched a dream for Tollywood’s fans in the districts too. Jeet has already accepted invitations to make an appearance at weddings in Kolkata. “I’m not going to comment on Kareena’s decision because it’s completely her prerogative. I too don’t inaugurate Pujas because I don’t think stars should hog the limelight during the Pujas. But, I don’t have problems dancing at weddings or even New Year bashes if the remuneration is good and the offers suit my schedule and my expectations,” Jeet says, adding, “When I was a struggler in Mumbai, I had earned a quick buck by anchoring a New Year show.”
Priorities are changing for Tollywood’s new faces too. Hiran, for one, has already received two offers — at weddings in Vizag and Malda. “Had my shooting schedule been different, I’d have surely agreed to perform. I’ve no illusions about what my profession demands of me as an entertainer and hence, have no problems dancing at weddings,” Hiran admits. Priyanka Sarkar too is ready to indulge. “SRK does it. Perhaps, the right kind of offers weren’t made to the earlier generation of Tollywood stars and hence, they abstained from the same. Doing films is an artistic decision. Doing shows is more of a financial call. If I’ve no problems dancing at shows to entertain 20,000 people, why would I refuse good offers of dancing at weddings?” she asks.
While such decisions will always remain a personal call, Tollywood stars seem to be displaying more eagerness to pamper brides without prejudice!
this news published by www.apakistannews.com
