In a massive exposé, the Cobrapost revealed the names of 36 Bollywood celebrities who were ready to promote work of political parties on social media in exchange for money. The celebrities included popular singers, famous stand-up comedians and award-winning actors from both the film and television industry.
Called Operation Karaoke, the Cobrapost sting was directed at busting how some Bollywood celebrities can post whatever they are told to by a political party for a price. With lakhs of followers on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram these Bollywood actors, actresses, singers, choreographers and comedians have the power to influence their respective followers.
Cobrapost, which is a non-profit website, approached the celebrities posing as a PR agency. Undercover agents were sent to the homes and offices of the celebrities. The undercover agents convinced the celebs to post what they wanted in praise of the political party but in a way that it would appear as if the celebs were posting opinions on their own.
All the 36 celebs agreed to do that but laid various conditions ranging from the availability of data to the mode of payment. The fee offered or asked by the celebrities ranged from Rs 2 lakh to Rs 50 lakh. A large number of celebrities, according to Cobrapost, specified that they will take a large part of the amount in cash instead of cheques or bank transfers.
While many social media users formed an opinion that the party in question was only BJP, Cobrapost clarified that they also posed as agents of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and the Congress in some cases.
Cobrapost presented a 60-minute documentary video of their sting on Tuesday afternoon.
Some of the celebrities exposed by Cobrapost include singers Abhijeet Bhattacharya, Kailash Kher, Mika Singh and Baba Sehgal; actors Jackie Shroff, Shakti Kapoor, Vivek Oberoi, Sonu Sood, Ameesha Patel, Mahima Chaudhry, Shreyas Talpade, Puneet Issar, Surendra Pal, Pankaj Dheer and his son Nikitin Dheer, Tisca Chopra, Deepshikha Nagpal, Akhilendra Mishra, Rohit Roy, Rahul Bhat, Salim Zaidi, Rakhi Sawant, Aman Verma, Hiten Tejwani and spouse Gauri Pradhan, Evelyn Sharma, Minissha Lamba, Koena Mitra, Poonam Pandey, Sunny Leone; comedians Raju Srivastava, Sunil Pal, Rajpal Yadav, Upasana Singh, Krushna Abhishek and Vijay Ishwarlal Pawar; and choreographer Ganesh Acharya and performer Sambhavana Seth.
But there were four celebrities who refused to be a part of this proposition. The names are: Vidya Balan, Arshad Warsi, Raza Murad and Saumya Tandon.
Here are the 36 celebrities busted in the sting by Cobrapost:
1. Poonam Pandey
When asked if she has any issue with it, @iPoonampandey says, “Absolutely not.” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/NRuSF4M44t
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
2. Rajpal Yadav
@rajpalofficial Yadav seeks an advance payment like a landlord would from a tenant: “Main kehta hoon kum se kum itna respect kar lo … payment do ek mahine ka jaise hota hai na wo kirayaa” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/59U6oSwUbw
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
3. Vivek Oberoi
@vivekoberoi seeks required Data to make his messages look Factually Credible, something not paid for. “Aap data wagaireh bhi denge na…Data ke hissab se hum likh sakte hain … aisa lagna Nahi chahiye ki humein Bola gaya hai likhne ke liye” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/udmXaIec7x
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
4. Jackie Shroff
#OperationKaraoke: Jackie Shroff says how it’s part of the game to keep such secrets “Wo game hota hai apna-apna yaar … apna kaam hai hum acchi baatein hum faila rahe hain, saath mein Dhan bhi de rahe hain toh oopar waale se faqir kya maangta hai” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/u5xI80Tr9H
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
5. Sunny Leone
#OperationKaraoke: @SunnyLeone has a condition of granting her husband Overseas Citizenship to support BJP: “Modi Sir ne Daniel ko overseas citizen banaya toh hum zaroor support karenge.” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/sxUuRC34I9
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
6. Mika Singh
@MikaSingh is eager to promote the BJP: “Nahi acchi waali karni hai rapo rapo banaani hai” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/YVxv9tWBvx
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
7. Shreyas Talpade
@shreyastalpade1 Demands better Renumeration “Toh humein kyon 30 de rahe ho yaar, humein bhi Thoda Better do” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/F5Y5A3yySy
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
8. Sonu Sood
Any doubt? “Nahi, nahi, Bilkul nahi. I got the point” says @SonuSood . He seeks to Increase his Fee “I feel ki jo apan 1.5 crore soch rahe hain it should be at least 2.5” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/9b6qzBJrW3
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
9. Mahima Chaudhry
Mahima Chaudhry even threatens that if her demand is not met, “Agar aapne dhang se Paisa nahi diya toh main Congress ki taraf se kar doongi” says Mahima Chaudhry #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/ivoZjmMUgt
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
10. Ganesh Acharya
#OperationKaraoke: Film Choreographer, Actor & Director Ganesh Acharya is quick to understand that he has to work on a Hidden Agenda: “Nahi main samajh gayaa aapki baat … Hidden hai” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/j4khPGq7SI
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
11. Kailash Kher
@Kailashkher tells us that his agency will handle the Commercial aspects of the Deal, with a hidden agenda: “Haan, Hidden mein bhi wo batayenge commercial hum Nahi batayenge. Hum bas Haan ya Na kar sakte hain, ki ye kaam hum kar payenge ya Nahi kar payenge” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/ZuLLgrbrDS
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
12. Tisca Chopra
@tiscatime Chopra is not satisfied with the offer of Rs. 3 lakh per message, is quick to convey it: “Teen thoda kum hain. We charge five normally. That is my normal rate” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/9wvNpKoRpe
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
13. Sambhavana Seth
@sambhavnaseth demands Rs. 50 lakh for the Job, “At least kum se kum main agar aapka itna lamba agar chalne wala hai toh main expect karoongi ki kum se kum mere paas pachaas tak to aaye” pic.twitter.com/PrzgpmwgQI
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
14. Ameesha Patel
For @ameesha_patel Money is the Top Priority even before she makes some general tweets “Samajho aap 28 ko aa rahe ho, transaction ho jaata hai 28 kee sham ko main kar doongi…” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/HsuEhc4nXK
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
15. Shakti Kapoor
White money is a No for Shakti Kapoor, he wants payment in Cash only: “Number one mein daalo mat.” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/qrdghoSb5x
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
16. Aman Verma
#OperationKaraoke: When told we would prefer to pay him in cash as it is all political money, Aman Verma says, “I would love all in cash” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/IDAVGUQ5lq
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
17. Koena Mitra
@koenamitra gets into journalist bashing, saying, “Koi kaam nahi hai mujhe lagta hai ki Pakistan se inhein diya jaata hoga fund” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/UQDO09BOkk
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
18. Akhilendra Mishra
Mishra’s comfortable if paid in black. He asks “Lagbhag black kitna chah rahe hain, 10 percent, 15 percent hoga” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/w99cKX1E47
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
19. Raju Srivastava
@ComedyKingRaju Raju Srivastava demands Rs. 10 lakh a month, “Mujhe lagta hai duss lakh rupaye tak ek company” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/QtHq7XN0tU
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
20. Minissha Lamba
#OperationKaraoke: @Minissha_Lamba is quick to understand how it has to be done. She says, “Apne words mein personalize karna hai jaise ye personal feelings hai” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/Q7oRfVyBxq
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
21. Baba Sehgal
When he is asked what his expectation is, @OnlyBabaSehgal says, “We normally jo bhi ek tweet ka ek post ka hum 2 lakh rupaye charge karte hain … ek ka maan lo agar 15 huye toh 30 ho gaya plus GST” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/K0XSJPS4Q7
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
22. Sunil Pal
Not satisfied with the fee offered, Sunil Pal seeks a better bargain, “Main toh zyada hee karoonga aap tension mat lijiye, bas aap 5 kar dijiye per month” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/gJ93IZnKmG
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
23. Rohit Roy
#OperationKaraoke: On appreciating Congress, @rohitroy500 is clear he would have to Deliver Personalized Tweets “Aisa lagna chahiye ki Rohit Roy appreciate kar raha hai ki in logon ne itna kuchh kiya hai, personal maanana hai” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/hDf5vmHJc4
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
24. Salim Zaidi
#OperationKaraoke: Salim Zaidi would not hesitate to lampoon Rahul Gandhi, using as few words as possible, “Kabhi ye aa gaya kabhi kuch aa gayaa … kum shabdon mein teer lag jaaye sateek” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/I3K3ra5acQ
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
25. Rakhi Sawant
A quite agreeable Rakhi Sawant seeks to know if she would be provided content for the political promotion “Haan, lekin wo mudda aapko dena chahiye.” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/oVLHmnmNhI
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
26. Rahul Bhat
After he is fully on board, Rahul Bhat asks, “Yeh toh Cash mein hee hona chahiye better hai” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/HrofhoJIKf
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
27. Krushna Abhishek
@Krushna_KAS Abhishek would keep it Discreet, “Okay Direct na lage, aisa Na lage ki paid hai aur uske liye ye aadmi kar raha hai” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/mVSCeHUULB
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
28. Upasana Singh
Upasana is curious to know if she would be paid in advance, “Haan, aap pehle hee pay karte hain” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/XzrwGQ2GSb
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
29. Deepshikha Nagpal
When asked about her potential Charges,she tells us “I am thinking of 5 lakh a month”. She continued, “I am okay with Cash, I am okay with cheque. Cheque aata hai toh wahi fir saare Jhanjhat” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/4crvrLGvHn
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
30. Evelyn Sharma
#OperationKaraoke: On promoting The BJP government, Evelyn Sharma says, “I love this idea, I really like. It’s very subtle and at the same time it’s promoting country suppose to are we following, so yeah I really like this” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/WcTG5HelOR
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
31. Puneet Issar
Puneet Issar spills some beans on Paid Promotion: “Aap manoge meri baat. Ye jo aap bol rahe ho na ki nobody know, I know Congress people are doing same thing … wo kar rahe hain aapko main bata raha hoon” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/Klu9hGEefU
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
32. Vijay Pawar
#Pawar is ready to lampoon Rahul Gandhi, “Uski maa bolegi Modiji baar-baar aap kyon jeet rahe ho. Mere khyal se Rahul bhi Modiji ko hee vote de raha hai wo bhi Modiji ko hee vote de raha hai Pappu” pic.twitter.com/3b4bY9dEJa
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
33. Hiten Tejwani
Tejwani is quite comfortable with cash. The reason is GST, “Haan, better rahega kyon bataaon main aapko ye saala GST ek bamboo hai har mahine aapko bhi bamboo hai mere ko bhi bamboo hai” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/3E5PE8snLE
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
34. Pankaj Dheer and his son Nikitin Dheer
#OperationKaraoke: Actor Pankaj Dheer is quick to ask what gains he could expect: “Mera gain kya hai ismein ?” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/qe0TjOXIcM
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
35. Surendra Pal
Surendra Pal quotes his price, “Do lakh per tweet.” His preferred mode of payment is cash: “Cash hee de do” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/F3zxBsxBbh
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
36. Abhijeet Bhattacharya
#OperationKaraoke: Bhattacharya says he would Also use his mobile phone to make videos in situations which look natural, “Hoon, natural lage na kahin khade traffic mein gaadi ke andar baith ke bol diya chaay pee rahe hain coffee shop pe bol diyaa toh wo” #BikaooBollywood pic.twitter.com/gXSrlcv9bx
— Cobrapost (@cobrapost) February 19, 2019
