Fan wars are a global phenomenon from Marvel vs DC debates in Hollywood to the clashes between fans of various stars in India, be it Bollywood, Kollywood or Tollywood. However, the nature of these conflicts have taken a disturbing turn.
The recent arrest of Allu Arjun perfectly illustrates the dangerous rise of mob mentality. A tweet by Prabhas' fan in particular, highlights this descent into extremism. The scenes of celebrities visiting Allu Arjun's house, post his arrest and the subsequent protests by his fans dominated the social media.
In response to this, a fan posted on social media 'imagine if Prabhas is arrested once, the entire Nizam will be burnt down'This alarming statement reveals a shift in fan behavior. Gone are the days of comparing movie collections, and praising acting talents. Fans are now seemingly prepared to engage in violence and destruction in the name of their idols.
Teaching young fans to admire their favourite stars without resorting to toxic behavior is crucial. After all, cinema is meant to entertain and inspire and not incite hostility.