Mid-Day Opinion: Mere paas fat paycheck hai...

Post her exit from ‘Lock Upp’, Apoorva Makhija has been trolled for being toxic and aggressive. Pic/Instagram/@the.rebel.kid

I often get fazed by trolls, because they are vicious. One comment and I am like, "Oh no, I don't want this negativity". Recently, I appeared on a podcast, where I have shot my mouth off. Later, at home, I got the jitters, and messaged the hosts, "Please don't get me cancelled. Use context".

But Rebel Kid just doesn't care. Even after the controversy over that infamous Latent episode, she is back to being as bindaas as she can. She made a video about cutting her Kalawa, because it clashed with her Coachella outfit. And now, in Lock Upp, she has attacked popular contestants like Shreya Kalra, Varun Yadav aka Laila, and Akanksha Chaudhary. She was brought on the show as an instigator, and she has done the job well.

Post her exit, Apoorva Makhija has been trolled for being toxic and aggressive - and followers of Laila, Shreya and Akanksha have been commenting cruel comments on her video. As it happens on social media, an old video of hers, where she is discussing industry casting couches, and says she wouldn't compromise herself for a minor role, has surfaced. However, she casually added that she might consider it if a Dubai Sheikh offered her Rs 10 crore to Rs 15 crore. And the righteous netizens have got more opportunity to shame her.

It's here I will say that I have started liking Apoorva. It's not because of her content, which I am not a target audience for. I also am not a fan of her delivery - TBH, it grates on my nerves. But I am a fan of her courage in the face of faceless people who have no other work but criticise everyone on social media. Well, I am also doing it, but hey, I have a face, name, and some nuance, won't you say?

But Apoorva hit back by saying, she made a fat paycheck, so that's what matters. By reminding the trolls that she is raking in the moolah, she has put them in their place. They can attack her as much as they want, but it's she who is travelling and enjoying the fruits of her labour - in her case it's her talent to rage-bait, and the instant smile on her face as she does it. And the money brands put on influencers like her, makes her whole existence justifiable. And kudos to her.

Different people on social media have different ways of dealing with trolls. Orry, who was offended by this writer's column, posted on her Instagram accusing her of being jealous of him, even as his followers left many caustic remarks. Uorfi Javed also likes engaging with her detractors, and Kusha Kapila restricted her comment section. Others like Sameera Reddy, who was routinely fat-shamed, turned the trolling into a body positivity campaign.

I am also very impressed by how everyone is able to operate even when the world seems intent on hating you. It's taught me to be more thick-skinned in real life, especially when you realise in the world we live in, people are always watching, and always judging. Compared to Apoorva, the attitude shift I have seen in some friends and colleagues, because I post so much, is mild and mundane. In fact, a boyfriend of a friend once decided to excommunicate me just because I was "so extra" and so shallow to be "all about social media".

In fact, many successful figures categorise trolling as a sign of expanding reach. It's a sign you are finally "making it". High-performers view a spike in trolling not as a failure, but as an indicator that their content has broken out of its comfortable niche and entered the broader, mainstream internet echo chamber. Some also monetise the hate, by creating reaction videos. And some, transmute that criticism into creativity.

I also found something very interesting - A comprehensive study by Stanford University and Cornell University, "Anyone Can Become a Troll", analysed over 16 million posts on CNN.com. The research proved that a user's probability of trolling doubles based on a combination of a bad mood and exposure to an already toxic discussion environment. So, it really doesn't say anything about someone's worth.

In the end, I would just say, take a leaf out of Apoorva's book, online and offline. If you are losing friends, getting criticised unnecessarily, and facing the wrath of faceless trolls - know that you are finally getting somewhere. And in the end, the people who support you, and stick around for the rise, are your people.

See you next week.

Ranting and raving about all that's trending on social media, Aastha Atray Banan is an author, creator, podcaster, and the Editor of your favourite weekend read, Sunday mid-day. She posts at
@aasthaatray on Instagram.
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The views expressed in this column are the individual's and don't represent those of the paper.