Shruti Haasan had to recently lodge a police complaint against a fan-turned-stalker. In B-Town, one doesn't always have to be as famous as the Khans or the Kapoors to experience that. Even the young actresses encounter hyper admirers in their day-to-day outing. HitList spoke to few of them to know more...
Amrita Rao
Last film: Singh Saab the Great
Quote unquote: `I don't remember being stalked harmfully except for this one fan from Nashik who came and stood outside my house for days. He also managed to get my landline number somehow and had vowed not to leave Mumbai until he gifted me this guitar he apparently bought from his pocket money. Tired of the situation, my dad picked up his call and got a meeting arranged. Luckily, when his wish was fulfilled, he left. Being stalked in today's world with the technology seems like a scary thought.`
Mugdha Godse
Last film: Saheb Biwi Aur Gangster Returns
Quote unquote: `I've had quite a few incidents but the weirdest amongst it all was this one guy who knew all the important dates and days in my life and would somehow manage to reach me with the most expensive of gifts wherever I was. Initially, I was surprised but later it got quite awkward because I wouldn't like to accept something from a total stranger and to add to it how did he ever get to know my whereabouts was scary. It got a little jittery when he started to profess his love for me and was hell bent I accept it. Eventually I had to seek some help to put an end to it. Incidents like that freak you out.`
Aditi Rao Hydari
Last film: Boss
Quote unquote: `I haven't faced any 'memorable' fan face-to-face yet. Besides, I have a very protective family and that may be the reason why I haven't faced weird fan-related situations. But I've come across quite a bunch on networking sites. Some of them can get utterly rude just to grab your attention and response. But then, it happens as social media allows one the platform to be anonymous and post whatever they like. I tend to ignore untoward comments so it's not much of a bother to me. Most fans are extremely sweet whether you meet them in person or on Internet.`
Prachi Desai
Last film: Policegiri
Quote unquote: `While shooting a song in Jaipur for Bol Bachchan, I had a scary moment. During the lunch break, a young college student tried to grab my hand and hand me something. As usual, the security got into action and separated him from me but he somehow managed to throw the gift-wrapped box at me. Later, it turned out to be a pen drive filled with poems he wrote for me and pictures he had clicked of me at public events. It was touching to see his effort. So, I can say that majority of the fans are just harmless and want you to acknowledge their affection for you.`
Richa Chadda
Last film: Ram-Leela
Quote unquote: `For better or for worse, I haven't met any hyper fan yet. Nor has anyone stalked me at least as far as I know. I like to believe that this behaviour from fans has something to do with the roles I've done so far. Fans adore or idolise you for what you are on the big screen. After all, it's about the image you've created as an actress in public memory that results in them perceiving you and then later pursuing you -- if it comes to that. Going by the characters I've played so far in films I've been part of, I think it works in my favour that nobody has followed me on sets or done something bizarre for me yet (laughs).`
Taapsee Pannu
Last film: Chashme Baddoor
Quote unquote: `Once in Hyderabad, this fan of mine came to our building and was trying to barge in. He thought I was in my room when I wasn't. Two days later, when I came back, he was still there waiting with a bouquet of flowers and sweets from the South Indian village he belonged to. He was literally shivering when he saw me. On top of that, he neither spoke Hindi nor English. It was a humbling event for me and it didn't happen. That incident taught me how fans love you way too much at times and you have to decide for yourself where you want to draw the line so that nobody's life is disrupted.`