Celebs talk about their fan experiences and how selfie culture is replacing autographs.

For a celebrity, fans are everything. Their encouragement motivates them to try new things and push their limits. They are grateful for all of their fans’ support and hope and strive to live up to fan expectations every time. However, not all fan experiences are pleasant; some can even be frightening. Here’s what celebrities had to say about their amazing fan experiences and how the selfie culture has supplanted the autograph culture:

Ekta Sharma
When I first started, there were no phones with cameras, so this fan used to write letters, and it was a wonderful feeling to receive these notes. People used to take autographs on the road, but now there are many fans who enjoy taking selfies and sending DMs on Instagram. I make an effort to connect with the majority of them.

Hitanshu Jinsi
Last year, I went to Jagannath Temple in Puri, Odisha. Many people came to see me after I portrayed Lord Jagannath on screen. They had travelled 12 to 15 kilometres just to see me. Most of them were elementary school students. But I couldn’t meet them on the first day because I wasn’t aware of their plans. The next day, I met some. Fans ki khushi aur pyaar dekh kar I am motivated to work even harder so that I can surprise and entertain them with my performance. One fan wrote an open letter on Twitter saying she was going to commit suicide because of some issues in her life, but after watching my Jagannath episodes, she changed her mind and thanked me. It makes me feel very special that I could unknowingly save someone’s life.

Kate Sharma
My most interesting fan moment occurred in the gym. That fan used to follow me to the gym every day, and he even became a member. But he was too shy to approach me. So I went to him and told him, ‘Do you want a picture?’ and he said, ‘No, I want to spend life with you. And that we have past life connections and everything. I was stunned. He stated that you had forgotten everything and that I was here to remind you of your past life. This story made me laugh out loud.

Karan Singh Chhabra
The most interesting fan experience I had was in Indore. Hina Khan and I went there for a club launch. The club was packed, and three kids came in looking for autographs. So they basically had a slam book where they were collecting autographs from people in the film industry, and that was really special for me. Yes, the autograph culture has been replaced by selfies these days because everyone has phones and wants to be seen with celebrities and post it on social media. So I believe that fans can be more demanding in situations like these, which can also be frightening.