Why Do Indians Worship Celebrities? It’s Getting Out of Hands!
Yuvraj Nanda | Mar 22, 2025, 19:36 IST
Indians are unbelievably devotional about celebrities—there are temples for actors, chaos over movies, invasion of stadiums for cricketers, and blind loyalty that ignores the mess-ups. This piece digs into why we’re so engrossed, how it’s demeaning for ourselves, and why we need to pump the brakes before it’s all too much.
While it is understandable that life in India can feel like a never-ending slog. We live in a country where traffic is a nightmare, the bills stack up, and even onions occasionally compete with gold in prices. Bit too much? Isn’t that what we exactly do with our celebrities here in India?
When you’ve got SRK flashing that dimple, Deepika owning the screen, or Kohli smashing runs, and it’s indeed like a breath of fresh air. They’re not just stars of our country, but also our escape hatch. Way back, we had gods and kings to dream about, and now it’s these folks filling that slot without perhaps even wanting to be in that position. Except we’re not stopping at “wow, they’re cool”—we’re out here building temples for Amitabh Bachchan and pouring milk on Rajinikanth posters like he’s blessing our crops. What is there in the Indian genetics that makes the masses of our country do all of this—loving a good hero story. TV, Instagram, X, they’re all feeding it, hyping every move they make until we cannot look away.
Here is where it gets out of hands. Fandom is one thing—going bonkers for people is another. Pathaan hits theaters, and people aren’t just watching or even adoring it—they’re instead turning it into a festival. Kohli nails a century, and our feeds begin to scream “God of Cricket.” Rajinikanth drops Jailer, and it is nothing less than a lottery for the fans who contribute to the hype. All of India loves the energy and charm of our stars, but the situation does not seem as chill anymore. People fight online over whose idol’s better, brushing off scandals like “nah, he is perfect.”
Someone blew their savings on a Baahubali poster—seriously, dude? It’s not just passion—it’s losing grip. When a movie tanks or a celeb slips up, fans take it like a personal gut punch. That’s not fun—it’s chaos. Nowhere else in the world do celebrities receive this kind of devotion. In the West, people admire their stars, but in India, fans take it to another level. Some extreme examples:
• A man in Karnataka built a temple for Amitabh Bachchan, performing daily prayers in his honour.
• MS Dhoni’s posters are bathed in milk before big cricket matches, a ritual usually reserved for Hindu deities.
• Rajinikanth fans take vows in his name, believing he has divine powers.
• People have fasted and walked miles barefoot to get a glimpse of their favourite actor.
What’s causing this level of obsession? And more importantly—why do we treat celebrities as if they are beyond human?
No one actually disputes the fact that cinema and cricket bring joy, nor that these figures have earned their acclaim. Yet, when fans elevate them to flawless icons who are larger than life, they stray from reason. Celebrities are humans, equally subject to errors, and they don’t resolve society’s tangible issues— crumbling roads or escalating costs. There’s little sense in escalating a film’s commercial or influential failure into unrest or grieving a star’s personal setbacks as a collective loss. Fans with all their hearts may honour achievements and appreciate talents but without losing sight of balance. Perhaps their focus might shift toward the everyday realities they navigate, rather than exalting those detached from their personal struggles.
Explore the latest trends and tips in Health & Fitness, Travel, Life Hacks, Fashion & Beauty, and Relationships at Times Life.
What Fuels This Devotion?
A fan of Narendra Modi painted his body in fandom.
When you’ve got SRK flashing that dimple, Deepika owning the screen, or Kohli smashing runs, and it’s indeed like a breath of fresh air. They’re not just stars of our country, but also our escape hatch. Way back, we had gods and kings to dream about, and now it’s these folks filling that slot without perhaps even wanting to be in that position. Except we’re not stopping at “wow, they’re cool”—we’re out here building temples for Amitabh Bachchan and pouring milk on Rajinikanth posters like he’s blessing our crops. What is there in the Indian genetics that makes the masses of our country do all of this—loving a good hero story. TV, Instagram, X, they’re all feeding it, hyping every move they make until we cannot look away.
When It’s Too Much
Diljit Dosanjh's moment with a fan crying.
Here is where it gets out of hands. Fandom is one thing—going bonkers for people is another. Pathaan hits theaters, and people aren’t just watching or even adoring it—they’re instead turning it into a festival. Kohli nails a century, and our feeds begin to scream “God of Cricket.” Rajinikanth drops Jailer, and it is nothing less than a lottery for the fans who contribute to the hype. All of India loves the energy and charm of our stars, but the situation does not seem as chill anymore. People fight online over whose idol’s better, brushing off scandals like “nah, he is perfect.”
Salman Khan with a gathering of thousands
Someone blew their savings on a Baahubali poster—seriously, dude? It’s not just passion—it’s losing grip. When a movie tanks or a celeb slips up, fans take it like a personal gut punch. That’s not fun—it’s chaos. Nowhere else in the world do celebrities receive this kind of devotion. In the West, people admire their stars, but in India, fans take it to another level. Some extreme examples:
• A man in Karnataka built a temple for Amitabh Bachchan, performing daily prayers in his honour.
• MS Dhoni’s posters are bathed in milk before big cricket matches, a ritual usually reserved for Hindu deities.
• Rajinikanth fans take vows in his name, believing he has divine powers.
• People have fasted and walked miles barefoot to get a glimpse of their favourite actor.
What’s causing this level of obsession? And more importantly—why do we treat celebrities as if they are beyond human?
Time to Reassess Priorities
A depiction of stardom and security
No one actually disputes the fact that cinema and cricket bring joy, nor that these figures have earned their acclaim. Yet, when fans elevate them to flawless icons who are larger than life, they stray from reason. Celebrities are humans, equally subject to errors, and they don’t resolve society’s tangible issues— crumbling roads or escalating costs. There’s little sense in escalating a film’s commercial or influential failure into unrest or grieving a star’s personal setbacks as a collective loss. Fans with all their hearts may honour achievements and appreciate talents but without losing sight of balance. Perhaps their focus might shift toward the everyday realities they navigate, rather than exalting those detached from their personal struggles.
Explore the latest trends and tips in Health & Fitness, Travel, Life Hacks, Fashion & Beauty, and Relationships at Times Life.