YouTube videos next pit stop for B-wood celebs

Till some time ago, TV was the next big thing for Bollywood actors, and now it looks like YouTube might be ‘it’. The popularity of videos featuring Bollywood stars, created by YouTube stars like AIB (All India Bakch*d), The Viral Fever (creators of Q-tiyapa) and Superwoman (Lily Singh), surprised many, and in perhaps as a result, several film celebs are coming forward to feature in these videos.While some actors do it to create awareness about social causes or for the promotion of their films, for others, it’s just a fun exercise.
Imran Khan
After the much talked about, controversial verdict on Section 377 was pronounced last year, it took online communities by storm. Micro-blogging sites were abuzz with posts condemning the court’s decision. In this satirical video, called Imran Khan v/s Homophobia, by AIB, the actor starts by saying, “I’m going to answer some common desi questions about homosexuality at imrananswersstupidquestion@gmail.com.” And soon after, mails poured in, and Imran’s sarcastic answers became a hit. For instance, to the question, ‘Why can’t people un-gay?’ Imran replies, “To un-gay/gay anyone, just switch between the gay-straight button on their neck. Simple! Don’t we just love technology?” To a statement like, ‘Do whatever you feel like in your bedroom’, the actor says, “You’re right. It’s only about sex and not about love or the basic right to live in a society free of prejudice.”
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Alok Nath
While jokes on babuji were already a hit on the internet, his sanskaari act in Nayak 2 – The Common Man Rises, a video by AIB, only added to his newfound popularity. The video came out late last year, when Arvind Kejriwal’s AAP swept the Delhi assembly elections. Not only were the former CM’s aam aadmi jhaadu, muffler and topi a rage at that time, his dharnas, too, created quite a stir in the media. In the video, Alok Nath coaches Kejru, a Kejriwal lookalike, on how to be a popular neta among common people. And so, says Nath, “Lokpriya hone ke liye tumhe middle class lagna padega aur woh tumhe main sikhaunga.” He adds, “Vacuum cleaner thoda upper class ho gaya, thoda aur gareeb…” So, they finally zero in on the jhaadu. And finally comes, “Election se pehle babuji ke pair nahi chhuoge, Kejru?” The video was unique, but the #Sanskaar... that’s an age-old desi copyright!
ALSO READ: Is Alok Nath the next Rajinikanth?
Madhuri Dixit
The Dhak-Dhak girl also features on this list. She featured in one of the videos, called What Bollywood Has Taught Me, by Superwoman, to promote her film Gulaab Gang before its release. In the video, she tells the video’s creator, Lily Singh, about the things Bollywood can teach you, or give you solutions to, through situational songs from the movies. To get over a break-up, the actress sings Chocolate, Lime-Juice, Ice-cream, Toffiyan; to get a hot guy’s number, she croons, What’s Your Mobile Number, and comes up with musical filmi solutions to more such situations.
Deepak Dobriyal
The actor, who became a popular name with movies like Dabangg 2 and Tanu Weds Manu, appeared in a video by The Viral Fever, called Man Of Steal: Entrepreneurship Q-tiyapa, to promote his film Chor Chor Super Chor. In the video, Dobriyal features as a thief, who wants to set up his own venture to ‘organize’ the theft sector in India. The video was released last year, when the rupee had hit an all-time low and reports of scams filled up newspapers. In the video, Deepak appears for an interview, where he shows a recommendation letter with some ‘government reference’, and says, “I was an intern in the CWG scam. Lekin mere seniors mere kaam se itne khush hue ki mujhe 2G aur 3G projects bhi de diye. The market has a lot of ‘potential’ and is perfect and ripe for C-commerce (chor commerce).”
Ayushmann Khurana and Kunaal Roy Kapur
The reality show Roadies, which recently completed 11 seasons, is a huge hit among the youth. The auditions of Roadies are as popular as the journey to win the title, and are infamous for featuring more beeps than dialogues. The Viral Fever came up with a spoof called Rowdies XXX: Extra X, Extra Qtiyapa, starring actors Ayushmann Khurana (the winner of season 2) and Kunaal Roy Kapoor, who came to promote their film, Nautanki Saala. In the video, Kunaal appears for the audition and says he wants to become a Rowdy so he can be a star like Ayushmann, which leaves the Raghu lookalike fuming. In the flashback appears Ayushmann, who steals the Vicky Donor script from him, saying, “It’s sexist and against everything you stand for,” and hands over the Tees Maar Khan script to him instead.
Alia Bhatt
Ishq Wala Love might have instantly struck a chord with the youth, but this was definitely the most popular spoofs wala song that year too. From various online memes to parody videos, this song became the butt of jokes because of its translation wala title. Not far behind were AIB, who made a hilarious parody of the song. Being a sport, the actress chose to star in this video, in which the makers translate every activity that Alia does in the video. As she brushes her teeth, they start singing Daant Wale Teeth, her reading a book is accompanied by Padhne Wala Read, and so on. In criticism-averse Bollywood, Alia’s sporting appearance surprised many.
Kalki Koechlin
Yet another satire, the video Rape: It’s Your Fault, by AIB, is a sharp critique of the mindset that blames women for sexual assault and domestic violence. Released last September, this video went viral on the internet soon after it was out. In this, Kalki Koechlin and VJ Juhi Pandey mock the common belief that a girl’s clothes, hanging out with boys, or working late into the night cause rape. Says Kalki, “Scientific studies suggest that women who wear skirts are the leading cause of rape. Indian culture provides several progressive methods to counter rape – just refer to your rapist as bhaiya and rape cancelled!”
By - Shubhangi Sinha
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