I am under strict instructions not to talk about that episode. I respect the country’s judicial process.
9) Please describe the state of your blog and yourself during that phase.
It was a very tough phase for me and my family as well. My blog was suspended briefly. I still don’t want to remember what I went through. It made me value my friends and family. Also, I realised that when you are in trouble, help and support pour in from unexpected quarters.
10) Do you feel readers want to know the truth about their favourite stars or do they expect you to feed their thinking of star behaviour?
Readers don’t want to know the truth about a star. They refuse to believe that most of the stars are abnormal human beings with abnormal behavioural traits. They think the stars can do no wrong. Most refuse to accept that the stars lead a kind of life that you and me won’t choose to lead. They refuse to accept that Bollywood stars are actually brands and they have an army around them who ensure that the actual faces behind the stars never get exposed. Most stars are terribly unhappy human beings. I wouldn’t choose their lives. I am happier than most of the Bollywood stars I know personally.
11) What changes have you incorporated on BJ since you began?
I started it as a personal blog. I have stepped out of the blog as of now and have handed it over to a company to run it as a professional news agency that deals with Bollywood news. The blog that I started has now paved the way for a start-up. My father is a director in the company and there are other directors. I plan to join my father in the business as soon as he can afford to have me on board.
12) There is a steady emphasis on writing more news content than the earlier blogs. Is BJ also giving up on pure entertainment journalism?
Bollywood Journalist is a boutique news agency on Bollywood that serves exclusive Bollywood news to others websites, magazines and even newspapers. The website is still a blogging platform where some of my old colleagues blog. I had stopped blogging there when it became a limited company as I was working with a media company full time. I will soon start blogging there again because I have recently resigned. I have joined an educational institute and I plan to revive my blogging career as soon as I settle down in my new job. I plan to start blogging with a few prominent sites as well.
13) What qualities do you think are needed to succeed as a entertainment blogger without giving up on any ideals and compromising on your personal safety? Or is that a myth?
I don’t think people who attack you on Twitter or Facebook actually have the guts to attack you in reality. They are cowards, who just love to mess around with you behind a mask of anonymity. They are faceless, nameless dolts (as Suhel Seth would say).
14) Is the Indian culture wired to treat actors like demi-gods? Can honest reporting save us?
We are wired to worship film stars as demi-Gods and not understand that they are professionals or brands. I remember that my fellow blogger (author Amrita Mukherjee) had thrown an open challenge to entertainment journalists to answer the questions that she has posed at the end of her blog. You can find the blog HERE
15) Anything else that you wish to add
Serious blogging in Bollywood is possible if only bloggers are willing to do it. The traditional media houses set the tone by pandering to stars and films because they are getting paid for it (in terms of advertisements or advertorials). Most bloggers are more than happy if they get a selfie with the stars after an interview. Most bloggers love to bask in the reflected glory of the Bollywood stars. We need some serious writers in Bollywood. Interestingly, serious bloggers are emerging from Bollywood itself. Did you know that Twinkle Khanna is such an amazing writer or for that matter, Sajid Khan?
Some bloggers are exposing Bollywood like never before. Did you know that Bollywood follows a brainless and impractical promotional policy? Read this one HERE by filmmaker Rohan Sippy.