Growing up, we most often tend to idolise someone, be it our family, teachers or a celebrity. Certain characteristics that they possess tend to attract us and make us want to be around them more, basking in the light of their halo. The idea that “everything is good in balance” not only suits science but also personal life. Therefore, when this idolatry grows more, so much that it harms the individual or their idol, especially a celebrity, it becomes what is known as Celebrity Worship Syndrome.
Celebrity Worship Syndrome (CWS), also known as Celebrity Obsession Disorder, is an obsessive-addictive disorder where an individual becomes excessively absorbed with a celebrity, often leading to unhealthy behaviours and emotional dependence on that celebrity. It is a type of parasocial relationship where admiration shifts into an obsessive fascination and preoccupation with a celebrity’s life and identity.
It can be understood in three levels, as measured by the Celebrity Attitude Scale-
Entertainment-Social: where people discuss celebs of their interest, with their friends, participate in fan club meetings and online engagement. This is the lowest level of celebrity worship.
Intense Personal: is the second level, and it comprises the individuals who become compulsive in their behaviour (both physically and emotionally) towards their favourite celebrity. This level is linked to neurotic personality traits and poorer mental health.
Borderline Pathological: is the highest level and is characterised by uncontrollable fantasies and behaviours related to the celebrity, such as spending large sums on personal items of the celebrity or stalking. This level correlates with impulsive, antisocial and egocentric traits.
While CWS is not formally recognised by APA’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), it has been and remains a topic of concern. With growing research on the same, the society must collectively heed to it and try to prevent the harm this disorder brings upon the suffering individual and the idols. With the recent case of the RCB’s maiden IPL victory procession in Bengaluru, the stampede caused by the overwhelming crowd consequently resulted in the hospitalisation of dozens and about 10-11 lost their lives. With fans going berserk and ignoring police advisories and traffic warnings, all in the hopes of being close to their cricketing idols. This level of devotion and disregard for personal safety demonstrates the more intense and pathological forms of celebrity worship (the third level).
While this is not the sole case which demonstrates Celebrity Worship Syndrome, multiple instances are reporting stalking the idol till their residence, waiting outside their homes for hours, writing letters with blood, even killing if someone misspeaks about their favourite celebrity. In another instance, during high-profile court proceedings, thousands of Salman Khan’s fans gathered outside his home, causing public disorder. In one extreme case, a fan attempted suicide outside the court when the verdict was being announced, highlighting the intense emotional investment and psychological distress linked to CWS.
An infamous suicide case of Ravi Raghuramin in 2019, a fan of Yash- the KGF (2018) star, further highlights the gravity of this syndrome. Raghuram had set himself on fire, in front of the star’s residence, after feeling dejected about not meeting his idol on his birthday. In South India, multiple suicides have been reported after the death of film star M.G. Ramachandran, with psychologists explicitly linking it to CWS. Obsessive fans more than often indulge in self-harm if something ill happens to their idol.
While these were some grave occurrences, there are other notable instances of extreme fan behaviour. In Kolkata, a fan has built a temple for the living legend Amitabh Bachchan. Where in the temple’s centerpiece consists of the pair of shoes Big B wore in Agneepath (1990) along with this, the fans have a special mantra that they chant ‘Jai Shri Amitabh’. A fan in Lucknow has transformed his entire home into an “SRK Palace,” plastering hundreds of Shah Rukh Khan’s pictures on the walls, turning his house into a personal shrine. Another crazy fan activity was climbing Europe’s highest mountain peak, Elbrus, just to hoist the poster of the movie Haider (2014). A fan named Saurabh Kant made a five-foot-tall painting for Priyanka Chopra, an extremely touching gesture.
In 2016, when the movie Kabali was released, fans of Rajnikanth painted their cars with the movie’s poster and even customised their number plates to the movie’s title. In fact the movie’s poster was also put on Air Asia’s planes. A rather eccentric collection hobby has been harbored by Ratilal Parmar, who collects currency notes with serial numbers with Tendulkar references. He became a part of the news circle in 2012 when he acquired a ten-rupee note with the number 240412 which is Tendulkar’s birthday that year.
The Shah Rukh Khan starrer Fan (2016) was Bollywood’s attempt to display the consequences of CWS on both the fan and the celebrity and how it is worse for the fan. Key aspects that the film illustrates, through its main character, Gaurav Chandna, and his relationship with the superstar Aryan Khanna, are Obsessive Fixation, Identity Loss and Over-Identification, and Social Isolation.
Additionally, one of the earliest Bollywood films to openly address the phenomenon now recognised as CWS is Guddi (1971), starring Jaya Bachchan. The story follows a young girl, Guddi, who has a massive crush on the actor Dharmendra, who is played by Dharmendra. Her obsession becomes an obstacle in arranging her marriage, so her uncle, after being tired of her tactics, tries to contact the actor in order to show her the realities of life. Through this narrative the film explores aspects like blurring of fantasy and reality and the societal stigma around intense fandom.
In essence, admiration for a celebrity is advisable to stay at the Entertainment-Social level to protect one’s mental and social well-being. Additionally, there are no benefits to becoming an obsessive fan, but only drawbacks. Take action to help; if you are unable to assist personally, reach out to a professional who can address the needs of individuals who become obsessed with their favourite stars.
