He has put an end to the exit chatter with a bit of wit. The Indian Idol judge was in hot water for having a word with the PM Modi government on the NEET fiasco, so he put up an on-set video to set the record straight: he is here, and as for the fans, ‘There’s a whole lot of manipulation going on.’
In the clip, you see him on the set of Indian Idol 16, feigning tears before he can’t help but let out a laugh and holler, ‘Here I am, baby!’ He made sure to tell his followers, ‘Don’t put your trust in everything you come across on the internet.’ The caption had a cockroach emoji for good measure and left no room for doubt.
It worked. The post made waves in no time, with fans who had been down a rabbit hole of rumours offering their approval. ‘Shutting all critics in one smile and post,’ said one. Another was more effusive: ‘I really thought that was true! I’m in awe of this, sir. You went for awareness instead of some phony sympathy.’
Some in the industry had a few words too. Raghu Ram, of Roadies, left a quip on the post: ‘This should be a Burnol ad.’ It was a lighthearted way of saying the speculation had run its course.
What set the rumours off
Talk of Dadlani being ‘let go’ picked up after his take on the NEET paper leak got some airtime. In the video, he was with the students, and he didn’t mince words when it came to calling out leaders for what he saw as them making light of a crisis and where the accountability was.
He was also at pains to say we should vote with our heads, not on the basis of caste or religion. He had been vocal about his exasperation with the state of things and what he termed as ineptitude. That was enough to ruffle some feathers and start the ‘he’s out’ conversation.
On the subject of being misinformed
His latest was more than just a put-down. 'Keep up the good fight and say what has to be said,’ he wrote, using the occasion to make a case for a little media smarts.
You can read between the lines of his post:
– I’m still with Indian Idol.
– Don’t buy into what you see on social media without checking it out.
– Have the back of the students in the NEET matter.
– Be on your guard for the kind of stuff they put online.
His place on the show
Dadlani has been part of the furniture on the franchise since 2013, ever since he made his mark with Indian Idol Junior. He’s been a fixture on the panel for seasons 10, 11 and in between. This new video was his way of nipping the ‘sacked’ story in the bud.
By doing it right there on the stage, he put the story in his hands. No press release, no spin, just a short skit and a couple of lines that said it all. Very much in keeping with how he is on the web: to the point and with a bite to it.
He’s been in the crosshairs before
You get noticed, you get controversy, and Dadlani is no stranger to it. There was a time a video of him with Pakistani reporter Safina Khan in London did the rounds and drew some fire. He has a habit of putting his two cents in on public matters, even if it means a row.
So the response to this one is no surprise. A lot of his following will tell you that if you’re a celebrity with something to say on politics or society, you’re fair game for some made-up stories. His supporters were quick to have his back on this one.
The bottom line is the rumour is dead and we have video evidence he’s still on the panel. As for what’s to come, you can bet on more of the same from Dadlani, on and off the stage, with no softening of his stance in sight.
As for the fans, there’s no mistaking it. The chair is taken, the banter is on, and a bit of a stand against the nonsense is in order. The show must go on, and so does its most unfiltered voice.
