Yo, what’s up?

Jasmine Singh

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Punjabi singer Jasbir Jassi met Yo Yo Honey Singh at a rehabilitation centre. Jassi’s statement to a national daily spread like wild fire, with the Punjabi industry calling it an insensitive act. And then came a complete U-turn with Jassi denying the reports, saying that he has been misquoted and misinterpreted. According to Jassi, “I had only met Honey’s manager Anoop and asked him about Honey’s recovery. I even offered to help with the names of the doctors. I haven’t met Honey Singh in rehab ever. Also, I would never say anything to demean a person who is not keeping well.”

Even though this looks like a grab from a political scene, the fact that celebrities have to invariably pay the price for climbing the ladder cannot be ignored. And in Honey Singh’s case it was miraculous rise. Dealing with pressure of success and pulling up a balancing act can take quite a toll on their lives. The Punjabi entertainment industry nods in approval, as they also put forth the notion of ‘respecting privacy’ and not discussing internal matters of a family (Punjabi music industry as one big family) with the public!

Family first

The first ones to react to this are people who have shared close proximity with Honey Singh. Money Aujla, Punjabi singer and constant companion to Honey, would call it breach of privacy. At the same time, he cannot dismiss the fact that popularity comes with a price. “Sometimes, I do ten shows at a stretch. I move around like a performing gypsy, which obviously makes me sleep deprived, but then I tell myself that singing is my passion and I need to be honest to it.”

J Star, another singer who was part of Yo Yo Honey Singh’s Mafaai Mundeer, till he went his own way, dubs this as an uncalled for statement. “We all deal with ups and downs, where is the need to talk about them in public.”

Ups & downs

Another singer, Gitaz Bindrakhiya has seen the rise and also dealt with whatever came with it. His father, the all-time popular Surjit Bindrakhiya faced many rumours of his taking to alcohol. Gitaz, who was pretty young when this particular ‘notion’ was catching fire, shares, “You wouldn’t believe, but being a celebrity is the toughest thing. You can’t possibly share a drink or two with your friends and colleagues because you never know tomorrow the same people might go on to say that you are a drunkard. Anything negative about a celebrity gets more ears and eyes than anything positive spoken about them.”

Big unit

The statement by Jasbir Jassi has ruffled many feathers. Not everyone in the fraternity has liked what he has done. Popularly known as the I-phone guy, Punjabi singer A Kay has no qualms in talking about it. “Like there is a mazdoor union, or any other collective group, Punjabi music industry is also like one big family. What happens here stays inside; there is no rhyme or reason for anyone to talk about it.”

Singing sensation Jazzy B does not undermine the pressures of being a public figure. “We are always under a scanner, whatever we do makes for news. But then we also lead a personal life, go through tough times and deal with it accordingly, like any other person who does the same in his or her life. Why should it be made news to the rest of the world then?”

BOX:

Jasbir Jassi clarifies on his Facebook page...

Hello. I am referring here to the Hindustan Times article. According to this article I met Honey Singh in a rehab. I need to clarify here that I never met Honey Singh in rehab. Further, I also want to add that I have nothing personal against him. in fact I admire his music and am fan of his beats. Only issue I ever had was with some of his songs with obscene lyrics and glorifying alcohol/drugs.