New Delhi: Recently, a video of Infosys founder, Narayana Murthy, sharing an anecdote involving actor Kareena Kapoor went viral, sparking reactions from different individuals. During an interaction at IIT Kanpur, Narayana Murthy recounted his experience of traveling on the same flight with Kareena Kapoor. He observed the actor ignoring her fans who approached her for a greeting, expressing surprise at Kareena's indifferent behavior. In contrast, he highlighted that he took the time to acknowledge and interact with people who approached him.
Hrithik Roshan's ex-wife, interior designer Sussanne Khan, praised Narayana Murthy's observation on Kareena's treatment of her fans. In response to Murthy’s video shared by a leading daily on its social media handle, she expressed her agreement, writing, "Well said Mr. Murthy," accompanied by clapping emojis.
"The other day I was coming from London, and next to me was Kareena Kapoor, sitting in her seat. So many people came to her and said hello. She didn't even bother to react," Narayana Murthy said in the video.
Narayana Murthy's wife, Sudha Murthy, who was also present at the event at IIT Kanpur, had a different point of view. She defended Kareena and said that given Kareena’s massive fan following, the actor must have numerous admirers, amd to meet or greet everyone would be tiring. Sudha Murthy pointed out that while a software person like Narayana Murthy might have around 10,000 fans, a film actor like Kareena Kapoor would have millions.
Narayana Murthy disagreed with his wife's perspective, emphasizing that the issue was not about the number of fans an individual might have. Instead, he emphasized the importance of responding to affection, no matter the scale of one's fan base. He stressed that when someone shows affection, it is essential to reciprocate, even if it's done in a cryptic manner.
"No no, that's not the issue. The issue is, that when somebody shows affection, I think you can also show it back in however cryptic manner you can. I think that is very important. Anyway, these are all the ways to reduce your ego," he had said.
The video and the differing reactions raised discussions on how celebrities should interact with their fans. While Sussanne Khan praised Narayana Murthy's observation, Sudha Murthy defended Kareena's actions, citing the overwhelming number of admirers she might have. Narayana Murthy's viewpoint highlighted the significance of humility and acknowledging the affection shown by fans, regardless of the magnitude of one's fame.