Fans are often credited as the reason for a celebrity’s stardom. But how is the view from the other side? Read on to know what South India’s hottest star, Dulquer Salmaan, has to say about his experiences with fans!
When did you get your first official fanmail? What did the message say?
I haven’t really received fan-mail as such – it’s all mostly text messages these days. I don’t remember any in particular, because being my dad’s son I’ve received messages even before I was in the industry. There were a couple of messages I got comparing me with my father, and telling me to live up to the name that he had earned, and one of them even compared me with a tiger cub.
What was the most memorable thing a fan of yours did for you?
I wouldn’t know if she was a fan or not. Recently, I went to a hospital to visit a friend. When I got out of the hospital, just making my way to the car, a lady dressed in a burkha called out to me by the name of the character I played in Usthad Hotel, Faizee. She said “Mone Faizee!”, meaning “Son Faizee!”. It wasn’t a random fan calling incident, but a term of endearment from a maternal looking woman. She wasn’t smiling or gushing or anything – it was a lovely maternal bond that she seemed to bridge, when she called me that.
What was the worst thing ever that a fan of yours did for/to you?
Nothing at all! I’ve had my critics, but there’s never been anything that qualifies as the worst thing.
Have you been stalked by anyone? What happened? What did you do?
No, I haven’t been stalked.
What’s the scariest fan-related incident you’ve faced?
Sometimes fans wind up outside my house at odd hours – so much so that I wonder if they are fans or have other plans…
Has a fan ever hit on you? What did they say/do?
Somehow, I find that little kids relate to me most. So little boys and girls walk up to me and ask to hold my hand, and speak with me. That is endearing – I guess I connect to the young audiences best!
