Entertainment
Updated : Jan 12, 2014, 05:18 AM IST
Move over Rajinikant and ACP Pradyuman. The latest public figure to be the butt of jokes on social media is actor Alok Nath.
Last week, #AlokNath started trending and soon the cyberspace was flooding with jokes about the actor. The veteran actor, who was trolled on Twitter and Facebook with funny jokes and memes, has taken it in his stride and is playing along.
A Facebook page, titled "Alok Nath Memes", has been posting the memes.
When asked what started the whole trend, the actor said, "My film Hum Saath Saath Hain was being shown on TV last week. It was one of those sweet films from Rajshri stable which talk about family values. In the film, there was a scene where I am saying something about family values. Somebody just took that line and made a joke about it on the internet. And it hasn't stopped since then."
While he doesn't complain about all the attention he has been receiving, the actor admits that the trend had him worried initially.
"When my name started trending on the social media, I started getting calls from all over the place. It was out of the blue. People were worried that something had happened to me and therefore I was trending. It came as a jolt as I have never experienced something like this. Initially, I got a little worried. I wondered if I had said or done something unknowingly that had got me into all this. But then my kids told me that it's just one of the random things on the internet and is nothing to worry about."
The actor is known for playing the father, who upholds family values and virtues, in television and films. He has been a part of many hit films like Maine Pyaar Kiya, Hum Saath Saath Hain, Kabhi Khushi Kabhi Gham, Vivaah etc.
He has also essayed the role of babuji on telly soaps like Vidaai and the recent Yahan Main Ghar Ghar Kheli. Despite playing negative characters in films like Bol Radha Bol, Vinashak and Shadyantra, the babuji tag has stayed with him and that is what made him a rage on the internet.
Though the actor has reacted sportingly to the jokes about him, he does get disturbed with the ones that are not so savoury.
"There are some jokes that really go below the belt, but it is something that is not in your control. When you like the nice stuff then you cannot really complain about the not-so-nice stuff. Everyone likes to be talked about, it's human nature. It does make you feel important when you are suddenly in the league of Rajinikant and ACP Pradyuman. As long as it is something witty and tongue-in-cheek there is no problem, but then there are some that really get dirty and murky."
When asked if he would react to such jokes, he said, "There is no point saying anything. These things don't last very long. If you take a stand, you are in the ring with these people and it becomes sparring. And there is just no point in doing that. So, it's best to let it die its own death."
Out of the many jokes doing the rounds on Twitter, the actor's favourite are:
When Alok Nath was born doctor said, "badhai ho, babu ji hue hain" :P @Ra_Bies
— Raj vikram singh (@InnocentManu) January 5, 2014
Alok Nath is so sanskari, ki uska ghar ka pressure cooker bhi seeti nahi Marta #aloknath
— Anshul Gupta (@inquizzitive) January 5, 2014
When we asked the actor to mention some of the ones that are not in good taste, he politely replied saying, "They are not mentionable." Here are some other Alok Nath jokes that will have you in splits. Read on:
When you type #Alok nath on Google search, "I'm feeling Lucky" changes to "I'm feeling Sanskari" :D
— Rushi Ashtikar (@rushi_ashtikar) January 4, 2014
#Alok nath ji has been appointed as coach to Virat Kohli to make him learn some etiquettes.
— ☆★इंस्पेक्टर सिंह★☆ (@rajeevsubzero) January 2, 2014
#Alok Nath Tweets on Alok nath ji shows the Sanskar& Mithas he has left, guess he shd be made brand ambassador for Sugar industries! !
— Ab (@abhisav) December 30, 2013
Alok Nath #alok nath gave the idea of 24*7 sansakar tv channel
— kunalbhaskar (@drkunalbhaskar) December 30, 2013
#alok nath special .... :/ Alok Nath has his own AIIMS - Aloknath Institute of Insaaniyat, Maanavta & Sanskaar ! .~hunter
— Pranav Yash Motwani (@PranavMotwani) January 5, 2014
According to Hindu Marriage Act, a girl can not marry if Alok Nath disapproves.
— Rahul Roushan (@rahulroushan) December 29, 2013
Many wud.. Party all night Party all night We do party all night! Alok Nath wud.. Aarti all night Aarti all night We do Aarti all night!
— Keh Ke Peheno (@coolfunnytshirt) December 31, 2013
Alok Nath walks slowly. Because Babuji dheere chalna.....
— Gaurav (@bwoyblunder) December 30, 2013