‘Anything to Build a Better Future’: South Asian Celebrities for a New Era

This chapter considers the online activity and profiles of three actors-Lilly Singh, Riz Ahmed, and Maitreyi Ramakrishnan-and the way that they may be able to facilitate a sense of solidarity for young South Asians who are seeking role models beyond Bollywood. The online activity and self-presentation of these actors are important in two respects: 1) these allow young South Asians to view the opinions of real-life role models, rather than characters alone, and 2) online media offer platforms that help to support identity construction, especially among the young. Overall, the celebrities’ presentation of self, as well as their reception by various publics, may be more nuanced and relatable than that of the Bollywood star who is often expected to offer a glossy, nationalist image. Additionally, for these individuals living in diaspora, there may be more pressure to comment on their origins, religion, and their ‘identity story.' In looking at their online profiles (how they construct themselves through social media as well as through selected interviews), this chapter examines the constraints within which these celebrities operate and their potential to transcend them so as to act as unifying role models for a generation that has outgrown Bollywood’s divisive imaginaries.