There are moments when fans’ enthusiasm crosses into personal space: Dr. Deepti Bhatnagar

Mumbai: Celebrity appearances have always drawn crowds, but the scale and intensity of those gatherings have shifted in ways that are harder to ignore. A recent video of Janhvi Kapoor is going viral, where she was left shocked by a fan’s intrusion during the promotional event of her upcoming film. When videos of stars being mobbed in public go viral within minutes, the conversation quickly moves beyond the moment itself to what it says about safety, boundaries, and the realities of fame today. Dr. Deepti Bhatnagar, who is a wellness expert and also the mother of the child actress Aurra Bhatnagar, offered her perspective on all of it.
On whether security interventions reflect how unsafe celebrity spaces have become, she said, “Incidents like this highlight how challenging celebrity appearances have become. As crowds grow larger and every interaction can instantly go viral, security teams often have to react quickly to prevent situations from escalating.”

The question of fan behavior is more nuanced, and she was careful not to paint all enthusiasm as a problem. She said, “While most fans admire celebrities respectfully, there are moments when enthusiasm crosses into personal space, blurring the line between appreciation and intrusion. That doesn’t mean the line has disappeared, but it can become difficult to maintain in high-energy public settings.”
When asked whether celebrities should simply be expected to absorb the chaos that comes with public appearances, she said, “Celebrities attending public events should expect attention, but they should not be expected to tolerate unsafe crowd conditions. Strong security is increasingly a necessity to protect both public figures and the people around them.”Part of what makes this conversation so prominent now is how quickly these moments spread. She said, “The growing visibility of security interventions may reflect both the rise of social media and the increasing difficulty of managing large crowds. Every incident is now recorded, shared, and analyzed within minutes.”And when a bodyguard physically steps in, the image most people remember from these viral clips, she said it speaks to something real about what fame demands today. “When a bodyguard steps in during a crowd rush, it is primarily an act of protection. At the same time, it also serves as a reminder that modern fame can bring intense physical pressures that require constant security management,” Dr. Deepti ended.