New ways of gaining instant celebrityhood

We live in an age of easy celebrity, where you can be famous for…well, just being famous. Case in point: Paris Hilton and Kim Kardashian. Not surprisingly, even our own desi counterparts are not too far behind in exploiting the karaoke fame tricks of the trade.

Defile yourself on some telly nerdathon, post naked pictures on a social networking site or more simply, blow the whistle on your ex when he gets caught in a spot-fixing scandal — and voila! — you’ll find yourself suddenly swamped by film and TV offers!

Yes, welcome to the world of fame moochers — that unique brand of species that knows that if talent stands in the way of instant celebritydom, talent must go. “No, it doesn’t take anything at all to be famous today,” laughs TV host, Koel Purie. “You need to shout the loudest, jump on whatever controversy you can and yes, be somewhat presentable —either enough to be laughed at or admired.” As for talent, Koel says, “Well, it takes a certain talent to be ale to do a song and dance about everything — whether you’re getting married or going to the toilet.”

“Nowadays, people are so in love with the idea of fame,” explains actor Shazahn Padamsee, “that they’ve forget that you’re supposed to have some talent to achieve fame…but today that idea has gotten completely mixed up. Like, I’ve never understood how some people can keep going to any and every party or opening held.”

Model Acquin Pais feels that all you require as fodder for fame is, “If you have the right amount of money, the right contacts, and know the right people at the right time. Today, everybody and anybody can be a celebrity.” To which, fashion designer Rocky S however adds, “Your hard work, your madness, your determination to be different from everyone is important to be famous.”

As for all those Paris and Lindsay wannabes, Acquin cautions, “Remember as easily as fame comes, as easily it goes.” Mwah, mwah to that!