‘Fan Incidents’ Part of a Plan to Keep the Buzz Alive?

Last week, actor Nidhi Agarwal made headlines after being allegedly “jostled” and “mobbed” by fans. This week, it is her co-star Prabhas who has found himself in the spotlight after a fan came uncomfortably close during a public appearance. In both cases, the so-called crises were resolved. The actors emerged unharmed. Yet cynics are asking an uncomfortable question: how did fans manage to get so close in the first place, despite heavy security?

Those familiar with celebrity security protocols insist such situations are highly unlikely, unless allowed to happen. “No actor, big or small, attends a public event without substantial security arrangements,” says actor Ronit Roy, whose security agency has protected some of the biggest names in the industry, including Amitabh Bachchan. “It is extremely unlikely that any actor — especially an actress — would be placed at genuine risk in a crowd situation. And I’m not speaking about any individual case.”

Amitabh Bachchan himself recalls countless encounters with fans, none of which ever turned dangerous. He recounts a visit to Patna, against the advice of filmmaker Prakash Jha, to keep a personal promise. “When I reached my friend’s house, thousands of fans had gathered on the road,” Bachchan says.

“I stepped out of the car while the security panicked and walked straight through the crowd. The crowd simply parted, creating a path for me. Not one person misbehaved. Fans may get unruly with excitement, but they never intend harm.”

Given the stringent security measures that typically surround actors at public events, the question remains: how and why was Nidhi Agarwal placed in such a vulnerable position?

Tamil star Vishal Krishna believes fans can be overwhelming, but never dangerous. Recalling an incident from last year, he says, “I was mobbed by transgenders at a function after travelling for five hours without eating. There was massive crowd, and I could barely breathe. But there was no malice. It was pure affection. Fans sometimes express love aggressively, but they don’t mean harm.”

Telugu-Hindi actor Harshvardhan Rane, who was recently accosted by fans in a viral video, echoes a similar sentiment. “They love me and get over-excited. There’s no harmful intent. Of course, the rules are different for women. Physical proximity is not acceptable, and fans understand that boundary,” he says.

Which brings us back to the original question: in an industry governed by meticulous security planning, are these encounters accidental — or carefully choreographed to keep stars in the news? The answer, for now, remains open to interpretation.

Actor Vijay trips at Chennai Airport amid fan mob

Actor-turned-politician and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay, popularly known as ‘Thalapathy Vijay’, briefly tripped and fell at Chennai airport on Sunday while trying to enter his car, as a large crowd of fans surged forward to welcome him. Security personnel quickly lifted him and helped him inside the vehicle. Visuals of the incident have gone viral on social media.

Vijay had returned from Malaysia, where he attended the audio launch of his film Jana Nayagan, an event reportedly attended by nearly 1 lakh fans and recognized by the Malaysian Book of Records for the largest audience at such a programme.