Recently, actress Mawra Hocane revealed that there was a time when she was so disheartened by social media trolls and animosity that she left the country and wanted to leave acting entirely.
In the modern age, an artist’s success is determined by their accompanying social media. Yet five years ago, this was not the case. Hocane was already on it and attracting plenty of followers while many artists were just getting to hear about Instagram.
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But in a recent discussion with actor and host Mira Sethi, Hocane shared how her social media experience eventually led her to becoming more scared, and then the apprehension never left.
Even though people credit me with being one of the first celebs to enter it and launch some kind of movement, I didn’t know a thing about Instagram. It was just something about me that I just wanted to use. When I began working, I was 19. But I’d take photographs of my project sets and post them,” the 28-year-old starlet recalled.”
She remembered how her co-stars would always wonder what she was doing, of which she would tell them about ‘Instagram,’ this app. They will all be strange and no one thought it was going to be that high,” Hocane continued.”
“But when asked about how toxic social media can be considering the importance it has been given today, particularly to actors, Hocane replied, “Like I said, Instagram was just another app when I started working. But people began to ask me to use this ‘forum’ to teach other actors and individuals as time went by. And I’d say to them, social media is nothing without us.
In the eyes of people younger than me, I didn’t want to make any wrong impression. And even though I quit working today, my social media account doesn’t have any value. Sethi also noted, in accordance with Hocane, how social media can only be viewed as a means to an end.
The harder you work, the more you can use your social media to project your work, I just believe. And if you want to raise an important question, then you can raise it there but if you don’t have a voice or a reason, it’s pointless to use social media,’ the Sabaat actor added.
Hocane added, referring to the scrutiny she has had to face and still faces often, “I am getting used to it now, but it was very difficult six years ago.” Like, right now if I’m giving an interview, it’s likely that I could say something wrong. But five years ago, I learned that when it comes to social media, something wrong that comes out of your mouth is no longer wrong, it becomes a sin.
You can’t even think about making an error, because on a pedestal you were put where you couldn’t say something wrong. But the first time I got hit like this, I decided to stop doing it. I want to quit acting, because what I want is to leave. And I honestly went to Sydney and said to my friends, “I don’t want to do this anymore,” the Sanam Teri Kasam actor recalled.
Hocane clarified how she couldn’t tell between the noise and the positive feedback at the moment, when her mind was so weak. Because of a single tongue mistake, she even remembered receiving threats. I said that people here want to kill me because I said something wrong to my parents. And I don’t want to protect myself even today. I’m terrified of it. I’m thinking,’ Do you know what? I’m mistaken! But would you really take my life for it? ‘, the celebrity demanded.
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She proceeded to relay how all the hatred finally disheartened her so much that in all her interviews she stopped offering regular answers. Are you scared yet? “Mira demanded. I don’t think fear ever leaves,” the Jawani Phir Nahi Aani 2 actor concluded.”
With 6.1 million followers on Instagram, Hocane is now one of the most followed actors on social media.
Watch the interview in its entirety here:
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