Celebrities share crazy fan experiences

MUMBAI: What are fans without celebrities, and what are celebrities without fans? They both complete each other and are almost incomplete without each other. But fans do go the extra mile, and sometimes in an unpleasant way, just to please their favorite public figure. We spoke to a few celebrities about some crazy fan moments, and here’s what they had to say:

Sara Khan:
This happens with me most of the time now, but earlier, when it happened for the first time, I felt a little awkward when a fan asked me to click a selfie for them. That made me feel weird, and I politely asked them to click for themselves.

Delnaaz Irani:
I feel truly blessed to have such wonderful fans all around the world. I remember there was this sweet teenage girl from Delhi and another fan from Scotland. She used to reach out through Instagram, messaging my team to get in touch with me. She was so head-over heels about my work! I’m lucky to have a global fan following, and I’m incredibly grateful for it. I haven’t had any extreme or “crazy” fan encounters—most have been incredibly sweet, sending thoughtful gifts, blessings, and heartfelt messages. There’s one fan whose name I’ll keep private who has been especially kind. She sends me gifts every year on my birthday and whenever I start a new project. Every time, she includes a bouquet of flowers and a lovely card with her best wishes and blessings. Her words are so full of admiration and support, and they truly warm my heart. Over the years, she’s been consistent in showing her love through social media and sending these thoughtful gestures. I’ve come to know her as a very devoted fan, and it’s truly special to have someone who genuinely appreciates my work. While I haven’t had any wild fan stories, I’m grateful for the wonderful, supportive fans I have. Take a selfie with a celebrity.

Dipshikkha Naggpal:
Oh, the craziest fan stories—I have so many! Almost everyone who meets me says, “I had a crush on you when I was younger,” and sometimes they look like uncles! But it’s all in good spirit, and the selfie trend definitely makes things interesting.One time, a fan came up to me and wanted to recreate a scene I had completely forgotten about! He was such a big fan that he even acted it out with enthusiasm. Then there was this woman who approached me, saying, “My husband is a huge fan of yours; please take a photo with us!” She even directed me, saying, “Stand right next to him; put your hand on his shoulder—don’t worry, I won’t mind!” It was amusing how precise her instructions were!

Deekshha Sonalkar Tham:
A couple of years ago I was shooting for my show Hasmukh in Lucknow at the airport. Although a section of the airport was cleared for the actors to walk to and from the vanity, there was a crowd that hovered there. After we packed up, I was being escorted by security back to the vanity to avoid the crowd, but somehow people still managed to squeeze their way in to get selfies. There was so much chaos that my make-up artist, who was walking with me, had to pull a luggage trolley and asked me to get on it, and she pushed through the crowd straight to the vanity. It was a scary experience to have so many people gather, but it was also fun to be pushed on the trolley. There has always been a kind of craze when it comes to seeing celebrities. In the earlier days, we had autograph books. Today we have phones, and although social media has bridged the gap between celebrities and fans in certain ways, the joy of seeing the person you see on screen in reality is different. I’ve always followed my uncle’s example (he’s a famous singer/music director) when it came to dealing with fans. He obliges most of the time, but if the circumstance isn’t right, he politely declines, offering them a reason to help them understand they’re crossing the line.

Aadesh Chaudhary:
As an actor, I've had the privilege of meeting many enthusiastic fans, but one experience stands out. During a fan meet-and-greet, a young girl, shaking with excitement, asked for a selfie. As we posed, she burst into tears, overwhelmed by emotion. Her tears turned to smiles when I hugged her and autographed her favorite dialogue.