In the Indian television and cinema world, the identity of actors is often linked to the characters they play. The audience settles the screen characters so deeply in their hearts that sometimes they forget the difference between reel and real life. People develop immense reverence and respect for the actors who play the roles of gods and goddesses or revered parents in religious serials. A similar experience happened with the famous actress Indira Krishnan, who has created a special identity for herself in every household by playing the elite and pious character of a mother on screen. But recently when she played the role of superstar Ranbir Kapoor's mother in the blockbuster film 'Animal', she had to face huge anger and strange reactions from a section of the audience. This seasoned actress, who played the role of 'Mata Kaushalya' in the holy epic Ramayana, was criticized and sent lewd messages by people on social media for working in a modern and bold film, that it was natural for her to feel hurt. What is the whole matter and why were the spectators enraged? It is common for any established actor in the entertainment industry to showcase his versatility through different types of characters. When Indira Krishnan was offered the role of Ranbir Kapoor's mother in the film 'Animal' directed by Sandeep Reddy Vanga, she accepted it as a professional actress. The film created a lot of buzz and controversy upon its release in theaters due to its intense violence, modern family dynamics and adult themes. Seeing the modern lifestyle and some aggressive scenes in the film, some fans who were used to seeing Indira Krishnan in traditionally religious and family serials, did not like this change. A certain section on social media started trolling her and refused to believe that their favorite 'Mata Kaushalya' could be a part of such a modern and controversial film. Indira Krishnan had received very bad and hurtful messages. While sharing her bad experience in a recent interview, actress Indira Krishnan spoke openly and told how she had to face mental harassment during that period. He said that after the release of the film, his social media accounts were flooded with derogatory comments and direct messengers (DMs). People cursed her as to why she acted in such a film after playing the role of a mother in a holy saga like Ramayana. Many people used such dirty and vulgar language on a personal level that it became difficult for the actress to even see those messages. This anger of the audience was proof that they do not consider the characters on screen as just an act or art, but they also want to see the personal image of the actors molded in the same mould. Today's audiences are forgetting the difference between reel and real life. This incident raises a big question mark on the changing relationship between art, artists and audiences in today's digital age. When an actor or actress acts in a drama, mythological or modern action film, he or she is merely bringing to life a script written by a writer and the vision of a director. That is not their real life or nature. Despite this, some people sitting in the virtual world of social media do not desist from hurting the personal dignity of the artists without any hesitation. This kind of behavior towards a senior and respected artiste like Indira Krishnan shows how much tolerance and understanding is becoming lacking among the audience, which is not a healthy sign for any creative society. The untold story of artistes' professional commitment and mental struggle. For an artiste, playing characters of different hues and shades in front of the camera is both a part of his livelihood and artistic satisfaction. Indira Krishnan has proved her mettle in all types of roles in her long acting career. She has proved that she can play the role of a mother with traditional values with the same intensity as a mother from a modern and complex family background. This entire controversy has once again sparked a debate on whether there should be any accountability for those trolling on social media or not. It is to be hoped that the audience will gradually understand that actors are only answerable to their work, and harassing them personally cannot be justified under any circumstances.
