It seems that Bollywood superstars are suffering from a superiority complex. Even after repeated failures and backlashes for their brazen stupidities and propaganda, they are still riding on their high horses. In their ego, they are hell bent on destroying the Hindi film industry and picking needless fights with audiences. The shear failure of Dobara is a prime example of brazen stupidity and false bravado. These so-called superstars have failed miserably in delivering quality content. Yet, they have the audacity to speak ill about audiences, their culture, belief and choices.
Spirituality and faith is beyond comprehension for some
Bollywood actor Hrithik Roshan has stirred a new controversy. His role in the controversial Zomato advertisement has irked the Hindu community. It has sent social media into a tizzy.
In the advertisement for the Zomato food delivery app, the actor says he felt like having a thali in Ujjain, so he ordered it from ‘Mahakal’. This direct reference to Mahakal and reducing the Hindu temple to a restaurant or place for eatery, is a cruel act to hurt the sentiments of Hindu believers.
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Evidently, it is an open secret that Mahakaleshwar or Mahakal temple in Ujjain is a revered holy shrine of Hindus. The temple dedicated to Lord Shiva is one of the twelve Jyotirlingas which hold a spiritual significance for believers of Hinduism. So, it is beyond logical comprehension that the delivery app and actor did not know this. Hence, this insane trivialising act in the advertisement badly backfired on Zomato and actor Hrithik Roshan.
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Along with the Hindu devotees, two priests of the Mahakaleshwar temple demanded that Zomato withdraw the advertisement as it had offended the sentiments of Hindu community. Ujjain Collector Ashish Singh, the chairman of the Mahakal temple trust, too criticised the ad. He said that devotees are served prasad on a thali free of cost. He added that it is not something that can be ordered online through the food delivery app.
Zomato’s statement
A day after heavy criticism and backlash from Hindu devotees and temple priests Zomato was left with no choice. The food delivery app issued a written apology along with withdrawing the objectionable ad.
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In their statement, Zomato tried to justify its rationale behind the advertisement.
It said, “The video is part of a pan-India campaign for which we identified top local restaurants and their top dishes based on popularity in each city. Mahakal restaurant was one of the restaurants chosen for the campaign in Ujjain”.
In a damage control act, it apologised and clarified that it never meant to hurt anyone’s beliefs and sentiments. The statement added, “We deeply respect the sentiments of the people of Ujjain and the ad in question is no longer running. We offer our sincerest apologies for the intent here was never to hurt anyone’s beliefs and sentiments”.
Bollywood actors should shun their ignorance and arrogance. Audience is fed up with their crappy movies, propaganda shows and high handed approach. Additionally, they should not take boycott trends lightly as Lal Singh Chaddha, Rakshabandhan and Dobara became a superflop thanks to boycott trends and their cliche stories.
If actors like Hrithik Roshan keep doing objectionable ads like these, the audience will not take it chin down and accept statements ridiculing their faith. This will only broaden the boycott trend in which remakes and shallow stories like Vikram Vedha, Liger will be crushed badly.
Therefore, it is high time for Bollywood to stop passing sermons to audiences on each and everything under the sun. They have to get off their high horses as their arrogant ways have brought the Hindi film industry to the brink of a complete collapse. Many of its actors and directors have gone past the redemption line, so it is better for other actors like Hrithik to not fall into their traps and work on audience feedback rather than what masters of Bollywood cabal wants.
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