Just LIKE that

Jasmine Singh

Let’s talk about a million followers, nothing less than that! This is the language that most Punjabi artistes understand. In fact, it is the numbers on their Facebook and Twitter pages that define their popularity, which is okay as long as these numbers rise naturally (courtesy the fans). But what if we tell you that many artistes shell out money, hire professionals and do everything they possibly can to increase their likes? This is duping fans! Nonetheless, what compels the well-known names to resort to these gimmicks? Why should the popularity be directly proportional to the number of likes on social networking sites?

Hera pheri

Actor Jasjeet Sohi does not mince words. He has been rallying against the fake like scene in the Punjabi film industry for a long time now. “I am surprised to see that even singers like Guri or Hardy Sandhu have a million views on their tracks. Is this even possible? Are these singers more popular than even Diljit Dosanjh or Amrinder Gill? It clearly indicates some ‘hera pheri’ in the likes, and this is precisely what all singer-actors do, they buy likes.”

Social media plays a significant role in the careers of singer-actors of Punjab, but most of the pages, if you check, are not even professionally made. Singer-actors of Punjab share everything; right from their new pair of shoes, a new style, a new friend they’ve met...just about everything with their fans! 

Buy me fans

Yet another popular singer, Amber Vashisht, is wary of the how well-known singers are also buying fake views and likes. “I think our singers and actors are bigger than the International stars because our singers get three million within days of the release of their song as compared to international artistes.” 

A Facebook like costs five paisa per like, an amount almost all singers can afford. Apart from this, they shell Rs 40-60,000 on a weekly basis if they have to increase their views!   

“Now, don’t ask me which singers but all new singers have offered me money to get them fake views and also comments on social media,” Charan, a social media promoter from Zirakpur says. Charan, however, has a clear principle. “I tell them earn the first one million and then I will get you the rest; this does not go down well with them, so they move to some other party.”

In the entertainment business where popularity of an artiste is defined by the likes on his or her page, social media is taken very seriously. Currently, Diljit Dosanjh is an actor who enjoys the highest popularity; the singer-actor has 5.3 million fans on FB, 2.5 on Instagram and 1.7 on Twitter. He is followed by Neeru Bajwa, Gippy Grewal and then Jassie Gill. 

Hit machine 

Popular music director and promoter Bunty Bains works with various singer-actors of the industry. He does not mince words on this issue, “It’s a known fact, many popular and less popular singers resort to fake views, likes and followers. Almost 85 per cent artistes in this industry are shelling money to get fake views and comments on social media.” And these are the singers who have either not performed live at all or do limited shows! 

“It doesn’t work in the long run; everyone comes to know that the likes are fake! Look at Punjabi singer Jordan Sandhu; he is getting two live shows every week, he is in big banner films, despite this he just has three lakh followers on FB as compared to other singers whose songs haven’t done well, but still they have views in millions.” 

Bunty feels sorry for the artistes who resort to tricks to increase their fan following on social media. According to him, “The first thing that many singers do in the morning is to check the likes of their rival singer, then they call up their PRs and give them a yelling as to how they are lacking behind. If only they could understand the value of good work.” 

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