Be yourself and establish your identity say our respondents. Some though think that imitating up to an extent is not bad, most of them urge to acquire the positive qualities rather than mannerisms

I totally oppose the ones who try to imitate others. I believe in being myself. If you are

influenced by the person than it is okay but copying and

imitating is not good and one should not go to this extent. If you like something about a

person you like then it is fine to pick up habits but before doing so you have to polish it, give it a new shape.

Kamal Man Singh, Singer

It is very healthy at one stage because it helps you grow and be more ambitious. This is

applicable only during the early teenage years when you are looking for an identity. It is not productive later on. If you are stuck too long, it will stunt your growth.

Manjushree Thapa, novelist

When people look at you as an idol, you feel happy because they respect you enough to want to be like you. My idol is Mother Teresa because she was so generous. I try to do my own bit from time to time. I really respect her. But to go around copying someone leads you nowhere really. To be happy with who you are is the best thing to do. That is the best you can do for yourself. Don’t be a second-hand somebody; be a first-hand you.

Niruta Singh, actress

It’s quite natural that people get fascinated with the looks, hairstyle and mannerisms of celebrities. And it is not bad. The only thing one must understand is that this

fascination should not bring any adverse sequel. Apart from looks and mannerisms, if someone gets inspired by the good qualities of his/ her idol then it’s very good. As long as these imitations don’t hamper those who imitate and their fellow men, I find it okay and very natural.

Bhuvan KC, actor

We should not imitate the celebrities or stars because imitation is the petty work of a parrot. Rather, we should develop our own virtues so that we can be recognised on our own. The featuring of a star in any movie or media is due to the commercial motives and if an ordinary people imitate them then it may create unnecessary problems and even one may risk one’s finance. Furthermore, we can even forget our customs and habits becoming a slave and blind follower. So, let’s not imitate others but try to promote our own culture and tradition.

Harihar Poudel, Pokhara

Celebrities have their own unique style and set of beliefs and spellbinding qualities. They are always a centre of attraction and often regarded as a symbol of contemporary fashion. Imitating their looks and mannerism, to some extent, doesn’t sound bad. But, with deep passion, sense of prurience and fad towards them, the sky’s the limit. It is better to imitate their positive inner qualities, which ultimately, uplift the character of an imitator. I don’t think making someone idol is rubbish. Their “larger than life” image can be imitated but its better to follow their positive attitude.

Jayash Paudel, New Summit College

Imitating celebrities’ mannerism and looks in fascination is immature. It does not rub off their qualities on imitator. Instead of imitating, we should take inspiration to work hard and diligently to achieve our goal. Every human being possess some qualities, which need to be discovered and exposed and I think we should focus on it.

Binod Thapa, Butwal

As far as copying the mannerisms and looks or attitudes of celebrities is concerned, it can have good or bad repercussions depending on what he or she achieves by it. I remember one of my friends when I was an adolescent. He was crazy after one of the Bollywood stars. It was none other than the popular Hindi film star of the 70s who rose to stardom overnight by playing the lead role opposite Sharmila Tagore in ‘Aradhana’. That friend of mine used to copy the celebrity as best as he could — in dress, hairstyle, attitude, gait or even the artiste’s speaking manners, but to no avail. There are instances to prove just the opposite, too. You don’t have to go far to seek an example. I myself am an example. As a boy, I used to imitate teachers checking SLC answer papers. Today I find myself in that post. I have been a teacher for the last forty years or so.

Gopal Prasad Shrestha,

Lecturer, H S M, Hetauda

Celebrities fascinate us. They tempt or lure one to the world of illusion and imagination. However leading a real life is quite different than what we see. Such fascination of celebrities has negative impact in our life. I don’t even know why the celebrities are so much highlighted in media too. There are great scholars in different fields.

Nobody knows them. Nobody talks of them. We don’t have such a trend to highlight a scholar and inspire to work hard. Qualities are self-developed. They may however be rectified but not transferred to any other person. Trying to imitate their mannerism and looks may even lose our own identity too. However, good traits and qualities of any person, be it celebrity or other, may be imitated but what is equally important is to think how a celebrity leads his real life too.

Suresh Bhatta, Kathmandu

It’s true that we get fascinated by the celebrities because they touched the culmination of success which we normal humans aren’t capable to do so. We can’t just imagine how much effort they had put to come to this stage of fame.

Imitating their activities can’t thus be considered as a bad part of somebody’s character but instead it is a campaign made to commemorate their deeds and to pay dignity to them. On the contrary, this very act may sometimes draw us in the sea of dilemma to lose our own identity if the boundary of imitation is crossed.

Kumar Dhakal

Everyone who takes birth in this earth have uniqueness in himself or herself. They don’t have to copy others’ styles. Though today’s celebrities fascinates much to our younger generation but as far as I am concerned and to my opinion, if someone copy’s others good behaviour and manners then it is good but if they copy their styles and looks just to become like them then s/ he must be one of the greatest fool of this world.

Pravin Rimal, Bhatbhatteni

It is universal truth that people imitate celebrities’ mannerism and looks. But it depends on oneself if s/he mimics the positive facet. Moreover, people are fascinated by the negative features than the positive ones. Britney Spears is one of the epitomes among the young girls. Youngsters take no time to wear hip-hugging jeans like her. Young men rush to hair saloons to change their hairstyle like of Ronaldo, David Beckham and so on. Smoking and drinking habit rub off promptly on youth. I don’t mean to say that youth are only charmed by the celebrities; children and old people too are also not far-off from the celebrities’ mannerism and looks. However, endeavouring to reach the excellence and abandoning the worse is a must.

Sunina, Jaljala College, Swayambhu

In this vast world, any of us gets fascinated by different celebrities. Leaving some cases aside, celebrities are well known amongst public due to their hard work, dedication and wisdom. So, to become celebrity, one needs those virtues. It’s spontaneous that everyone aspires to strike new chord. If one wants to be a big shot, he should go through unique and genuine potentials. Imitating the looks and mannerism, one gratifies his longing but in the eyes of beholders he just remains idol. Learning some applicable from someone is very good but invisibly.

Anjan Gurung, Pokhara

It is obvious that celebrities fascinate everyone but indeed no one can become similar to another by imitating the mannerisms and other qualities. By copying the mannerism, there is no certainly that the qualities of the celebrities are induced. Rather one should make endeavour to adapt good qualities. Had it been so easy to get the qualities rubbed off of any legend, people would have loved to be Buddhas.

Ranjit Shrestha, JMC

Till five years ago I did not know any celebrities. But in the past few years I have got to know lots of things — celebrities, their mannerism, songs and so on. And I would like to imitate them. I am fond of imitating. Had they not deserved something I wouldn’t have imitated them. Very frankly I would say I can certainly do some fantastic imitation of George Bush, Bill Clinton, Krishna P Bhattarai and GP Koirala and so on. I just love imitating them .To this extent I don’t think it is rubbish and idol to them. If you go to some discotheque in the city you would get to see gawky teenagers with baggy pants and clunky shoes dancing in English rap just in Nelly and Martyn style. It’s not that they are being idol .It is the qualities of celebrities that made them dance that way. Rather I would probably prefer to imitate George Bush.

Roshan Deuja, Bhaktapur

Copying mannerism and looks is very common among the under-25 youths. Films and ads are the major sources of fashion and style. Many celebrities are not what they actually do or seem to be in their real life. These people perform for the sake of publicity, glamour and money. In the film and modelling or any other areas people act or wear for the sake of “show-business” or it may be their wish to look different. Imitation is simply the act of a copycat. Teenagers even buy life-size photos of their favourite celebrities and hang on the wall of their study. I think, it is simply crazy to imitate the costumes, hairstyle and mannerism that do not increase modesty, sobriety and grace.

Gopal Sharma, Jorpati, Kathmandu

Fascination and imitation neither are rubbish if they are up to a certain limit. Everything has boundaries and is good if they are within limit. People are considered celebrities for they are exemplary but trying to become a replica is certainly rubbish moreover foolish. Imitating celebrities to extremes can erode ones self-identification. One should always maintain their identity and individuality. Getting influenced and fascinated is always acceptable. One should always try and be an example for others rather than imitating and acting flamboyant and making a fool of oneself.

Shrismita Amatya

It’s likely that we’re fascinated by the looks and moves of celebrities. But, imitating mannerism and looks can’t change what you are. I think one should think of struggle, hard work, perseverance and devotion of celebrities. Just changing the outfits is not going to take the imitator anywhere. So, I think we should be rather be cautious while copying other’s styles because it may kill the persons creativity and originality.

If the person wants to be as famous as his/her idol then self-discipline and confidence can be the only tool for success.

Anil pandey, B Sc Ist year,

Amrit Science College

Ben Kingsley, the artist who played the role of Mahatma Gandhi in the film Gandhi has his look so similar with Gandhi that many of us could hardly believe that the artist could be other than the great leader Gandhi. Ben’s look-alike features and marvellous performance in the film made him famous not only in India but also across the world.

But people can rarely have any advantage of their look and manner resembling particular celebrity except occasional remarks such as he/she looks like such and such celebrity. Knowing all these, youngsters often seem going crazy for the change of their look. Many of them get their look changed and copy the style of film artists despite the fact that by doing so they are loosing their originality and identity. So it is always better to live with our own identity than copying others in real life.

Ambika Pandey, Chitwan

Celebrities are special personalities for they possess extraordinary qualities that attract ordinary populace. Many people walking on the streets even idolise and try plagiarising them. But, it is not that celebrities comprise only of high-quality traits, but not the ones that degrade their fame, which lay concealed more often than not. It is never bad to imitate the things that are good. Of course, they someday, somehow, prove commendable. Talking about qualities being rubbed off, voice, gestures and appearance can be mimicked; however, imitating cerebral attitudes and mannerism as a whole and making them our own sounds more implausible. Also the fact is, in the process of imitation (if preferred), we are trying to act, look, or be like somebody that we are not. The degree of it in this course of action, therefore, has to be contemplated on. We, while copying others, have to ensure, that we do not become ‘the fake ones’ or lose our original identity, apart from that they would help the progress of our own self.

Sushil Shrestha,

Pashupati Multiple Campus

To be fascinated and imitate celebrities are two sides of a coin. Fascination should be taken to invent something new and should be inspirational to lead new discoveries. Imitation shouldn’t exceed one’s identity. Everybody dreams to look smart and wish to have dynamic personality. They want to be unique and hope to be liked by all. But it is not good to look dynamic by imitating others. One should have his/her self-respect and identity in society. One should always try to be a person of dignity and have good impact on others. Simplicity is the best thing, which a person can have. But today most of guys want to be Keanu Reaves, Shah Rukh khan and most of girls copy Julia Roberts, Britney Spears and Aishwarya. Today’s youths have forgotten what they actually are. They are searching others identity on them.

Pranita Mali, Baneshwor

No doubt, celebrities fascinate everyone. And people try to imitate them because of their eloquent mannerism. However, it is a moot point that their hallmarks could be spotted and be rubbed off to the imitator or not. Distinct people think differently on this topic. As far as I am concerned, making a celebrity to an idol up to this extent is good. Everyone limits himself in copying only the exemplary characters of a famous person. No one would like to copy others’ bad attitudes. This implies that it is certain that the person who imitates a personality edifies himself. And there is no possibility of the personality being rubbed off. Rather, this would promulgate the personality. For instance, if we see someone in Michel Jackson’s looks up singing and dancing on a stage in the way very similar to him, we will feel curious that how the real Jackson is. We are eager to see him real on the same stage, don’t we? And next time when we see Jackson on TV, we rather watch him more carefully than before.

If imitating is caricature, it is true that caricaturing a famous person is not a bad thing. Such caricature generally will be on stage and be a kind of satire pointing to foibles hidden. However, this indirectly persuades the person to remove such foibles and amend him in forthcoming days. Thus, imitating personalities does not mar their calibres. So, it is foolish to say that their qualities would be rubbed off on the imitators.

Nirmal Kumar Pandey, Kathmandu

Everything which when mimicked put some worth to those, which is being mimicked. Either it is a celebrity or some other. In business it may be harmful in financial way. But in emotions, personality as well as tradition and custom it is a thing to get proud for that we have something inherited within us that is adequate to be imitate. Moreover, in business also its a proof of the superiority. But, the way and the things which are simulated should be counted. No one could say it is good or bad to those who imitate just looking at the surface. But the things which and the way by which it is replicated matters. In fact, we should imitate the good things in a fair way.

Arjun Ojha Damak-13, Jhapa