Veteran singer Abhijeet Bhattacharya has ignited a firestorm yet again, this time aiming at his fellow Bollywood celebrities. In a recent interview, Bhattacharya made scathing remarks, accusing them of being nothing more than “paid desh bhakts” (paid patriots).
This isn’t the first time the singer has courted controversy, with a career peppered with public spats and allegations of sexual harassment.
Singer Makes Sweeping Accusations
Bhattacharya positioned himself as the sole beacon of true patriotism within Bollywood. He claims other celebrities feign love for the nation solely for monetary gain.
To bolster his argument, he referenced a well-known celebrity couple (though refraining from revealing their names). In this example, the wife, according to Bhattacharya, actively criticizes her husband’s supposed patriotism within the halls of parliament.
Beyond Bollywood: A Deeper Issue
“Bollywood ka ek admi desh bhakt nahi hai. Yahan ek husband kuch bolte hai, aur wife ja ke parliament mein mazak udati hai. Koi Ram Lalla ke darshan karne ja rahe hai, toh wife jis party mein hai woh party wale inko gali dete hai. So paisa de ke kisi se desh bhakti mat karao. Maine paise kamaye hai aur bahut kuch gawaya hai desh bhakti mein. Now I am what I am, mein sirf gana gayunga aur logo ko entertain karunga.”
(Not a single man from Bollywood is a patriot. Here a husband speaks something, and the wife makes fun of him in the Parliament (Amitabh Bachchan and Jaya Bachchan without naming them.) If someone is going to have a darshan of Ram Lalla, then the wife in the party is the one who abuses him. So give money to someone and make him a patriot. I have earned money and achieved a lot in devotion to the country. Now I am what I am, I will only sing and entertain people.)
Truth or Outlandish Claims? A Conversation Ignited
These comments have predictably caused a stir within the Indian film industry. Many celebrities have chosen to remain silent, likely wary of further inflaming the situation. However, some have spoken out against Bhattacharya’s accusations.
Critics point to his own tarnished image and question his motives for making such claims. They argue that true patriotism goes beyond public pronouncements and translates into one’s actions and conduct.