At a time when Bangladeshi Hindus are facing persecution in their country following a regime change, film celebrities remain silent.
Hindi movie stars have shared opinions in the past about several international issues, such as the Palestine cause. The 'All Eyes On Rafah' campaign, which took shape recently, is a prime example.
"The silence of Bollywood stars regarding the situation in the neighbourhood is disappointing but not surprising. These celebrities typically react only when a PR campaign is mounted. In the case of Palestine, a robust international PR campaign exists, but none exists for Bangladeshi Hindus. Consequently, these stars are silent," a Right-Wing commentator opined. So far, only Preity Zinta and a few others have highlighted the persecution faced by Hindu minorities in Bangladesh.
The silence of Telugu film stars is equally surprising. Most Hyderabad-based stars avoid sharing their opinions on political matters, fearing online backlash and political targeting. In the case of Bangladesh, where the issue is humanitarian, a few of them could have posted something on social media.