Introduction: Our Role Models in the Courtrooms

You’ve seen them all your life on billboards, advertisements, stages, movie sets, and glossy magazine covers — seeming ethereal and untouchable. They are ambassadors of luxury brands, selling products not just with their names, but with their powerful face cards, their lives dominate headlines, and their fame feels like a shield. But did you ever imagine seeing them not in the spotlight, but in a courtroom, seated with lawyers and fighting for justice like any other ordinary person?

It’s hard to imagine, right? Seeing the face you admired, maybe even idolized, your whole life now sitting in a court, accused of something you never thought possible. Whether they’re actually guilty or not, the image itself feels terrible. For some, it’s heartbreaking, as if it questions their beliefs, and for others, it’s entertainment, watching like a real-life K or J drama juicier than any film, it becomes a hot topic for tea table debates and WhatsApp/ Instagram gossip.

No doubt it’s a tough pill to swallow, seeing your favourite celebrity’s name in a legal file. But the real question we, not as fans but as a society, must pause and reflect upon is that:
Do celebrities truly get an advantage when it comes to law and justice, just like they do in almost every other walk of life? Or do they face the same uncertainty,
delays and struggles that ordinary people do while seeking justice?

Is the courtroom a place where fame bends the spirit of law and justice, or is it still one of the few spaces where everyone stands on equal ground, whether rich or poor, known or unknown?

These are not just ordinary questions, they’re significant ones. In a world where the line between courtroom and camera is fading fast, they matter more than ever. Because from the very beginning of our studies, we have been taught about the values enshrined in our Constitution, and about the Preamble, which promises us justice, liberty, and equality, and the guarantee under Article 14 that every person is equal before the law. We all grew up reading and believing the provisions relating to no discrimination, that the law does not, and must not discriminate based on wealth, status, or popularity, that justice must be impartial, and rooted in truth, not titles.

However, when we witness high-profile cases of celebrities or famous or influential faces, we are forced to question the genuineness of such procedures and trials involving a person with a strong name and fame. We often think about whether the promise of equality still holds true or whether thatfame and name silently tilt the scales of justice.

Status of Fame in the Court: Does it turn out to be helpful or troublesome?

When someone famous faces the law, it no longer remains a normal courtroom drama, but it becomes a suspense movie with high stakes and a big budget, watched by millions. It is certainly right to say that fame equals more power, more resources, and more attention, but we must not ignore the pressure, expectations, and scrutiny it brings with it, which is unlikely to be faced by the ordinary person. This is quite unique of a concoction that leads the legal trials differently for the people with popularity, having both significant advantages and equally daunting challenges.

So, without further ado, let’s explore how popularity can be both a blessing and a burden when it comes to legal run-ins.

Fame often acts as a double-edged sword in the courtroom, but when it comes to advantages, it undeniably opens doors that remain closed for common people like us. So, why does it often feel like celebrities have it easy in terms of the law while ordinary citizens face the full weight of it? The answer could be a lot of things, it could be money, it could be resources like an elite legal team, consultants, connections, and influence. They often have such powerful connections that the average person simply doesn’t have. They could get away with a secret negotiated settlement with the authorities and parties behind closed doors, or they could call a person in power seeking their influence in the case for help. The influence of popularity could be seen through indirect ways, like lesser punishment or dropping of charges, etc.

It’s frustrating and infuriating to witness such double standards. But it has become so common in recent years, like taking an example of one of the most iconic stars of Bollywood, who was charged with the offence of hunting an endangered animal. His case got dragged for so many years, multiple hearings, appeals, acquittals, and delayed proceedings. Finally, after so many years of capturing the headlines, the star faced the conviction, but, surprisingly, got bail just two days later.  This got many of us thinking that, had it been a common person, would the outcome be the same? Hard to agree, right? But that is what it is that celebrities often walk away with a PR crisis and a fine, while someone without a famous name would face prison time, public shame, and lifelong consequences for that exact offence.[i]

This is not the only instance where we felt that way. The other included another superstar of Bollywood who was convicted for illegal possession of arms under the Arms Act. Though he did serve jail time, according to public opinion, his sentencing saw several delays, furloughs, and parole periods, something that is not easily available to a regular convict. The leniency he received sparked public debates on whether his fame had softened the system’s stance.

But that’s not all, there are times when they even mess with the whole legal procedure. They often have the means to influence investigations, tamper with evidence, andmanipulate key witnesses, sometimes openly, sometimes in silence. In many high-profile cases, we have witnessed many victims mysteriously withdraw complaints, change statements, or simply disappear from the scene altogether. Also, CCTV footage gets misplaced, reports go missing, and witnesses turn hostile. No, these events don’t only happen in TV serials or Movies, but also in real life, when the accused has connections that reach deep into the system.[ii]

One real-life example was from the year 2020 surrounding the unexplained death of a young male actor, which dominated the national headlines. Initially appearing to be a case of suicide, later became a far more complex issue involving drug allegations, political figures, media trials, and a surge of public emotions. There were many unanswered questions, like a rushed post-mortem, missing CCTV footage, suspicious people surrounding the actor, involvement of big names from Bollywood, and even powerful politicians. The police called it a suicide without any strong proof, and the case could not move much in the court due to a lack of evidence. This case showed that powerful connections can easily twist the path of justice.

Let’s just be real and accept that when someone has enough popularity and money to distract the public and silence the whistle-blowers, the quest for truth becomes even more difficult. This harms the Justice system and makes it look like a drama controlled by power instead of facts and law. This also makes the common people lose trust in the legal system.

It is for us to understand that just because we admire someone, or fangirl or fanboy over someone, it does not mean we should turn a blind eye to their mistakes. And what is unfortunate is that this is exactly how some fans and supporters defend their favourites. They cry foul and demand mercy, pointing out their good deeds and their contributions to society with their acts and wealth. However, we should know that charity can never be a curtain hiding the crimes.[iii]

When Popularity Feels Like a Trap:

While no doubt fame opens doors and acts as a shield in the courtrooms. But on the flip side, being famous does not always help; sometimes it hurts more. As we previously discussed, how people consider these celebrities as their role model, how they idolize them, and how much influence they have on a common person’s daily life. Considering this, sometimes the celebrities are judged by higher parameters, courts may expect them to behave more responsibly and perfectly, as they symbolize values for the public to follow. They are expected to be cautious with every action they take, because even a single wrong move can damage their reputation and set a wrong example for audiences of all ages.[iv]

Also, Media trials begin even before the legal ones, with half-truths, assumptions, and prejudices, every mistake magnified, every detail dissected. In this way, the process rarely stays confined to the courtroom walls, and this level of public scrutiny can possibly derail the fairest proceedings. Thus, somehow, it seems that fame results in a prison of expectations, excessive accountability, and fear of public reaction.[v]

Moreover, the Judges and Juries often avoid being a bit lenient on the celebrities, as they would be with an ordinary man with similar circumstances, to avoid the label of bias and favouritism, which can lead to public criticism.

Sometimes, even when the celebrities are the actual victims of the crime, they hesitate to speak up and file a case; they choose silence over justice because they fear the backlash, trolling, and the label of ‘publicity stunt’ getting attached to them. This prevents them from seeking justice for themselves in a democratic country.

Realistically speaking, judges and juries are also part of the same society. They do have access to social media, they watch news channels, and they are not completely immune to the constant one-sided narratives built around celebrities. And if the media dislikes a celebrity involved in the case, then that narrative can subtly influence their thinking.[vi]

Furthermore, the job of those who advocate for the celebrities or popular faces in the courtrooms gets a lot harder because of the media intrusions. The unnecessary attention creates a lot of chaos, often leading to diversion of the courts from the real legal issues and facts.[vii]

Conclusion: Balancing Fame and Justice in the Courtroom:

One cannot ignore the fact that advantages like fame, wealth, elite legal teams, and most importantly, powerful connections can sometimes make a celebrity’s legal journey a cakewalk compared to a common person.

 However, this is not always the case. What truly matters inside a courtroom are the facts, evidence, and law. Judges are bound to make decisions based on these elements, not public opinions and media pressure. Well, certainly, the media trials, public demands, and expectations create noise around the case, but at the end of the day, the heart of justice lies in the issues presented before the court, irrespective of whether the celebrity is a victim or a defendant.

As citizens, law students, and future legal professionals, we must not forget that justice is not meant to be influenced by popularity or prejudice. The Indian Constitution promises equality before the law to every human being and not equality based on parameters of wealth, popularity, and connections. It is time we focus on facts and not filters fed by the media and news channels. And we must realize that justice does not need a fan following; what it truly needs is integrity.

---

[i] (2022, November 7) Athletes, Actors, Musicians, and the Realm of Fame in the Court Room. L&B (Levine and Blit Attorneys at Law). Retrieved June 4, 2025, from https://www.levineblit.com/blog/athletes-actors-musicians-and-the-realm-of-fame-in-the-court-room/

[ii] Shroff, J. H. (2016, June 15). In India, Prison for the Poor, Bollywood Justice for the Elite The subcontinent’s commitment to rule of law is stuck in a bygone era. Foreignpolicy. Retrieved June 4, 2025, from https://foreignpolicy.com/2016/06/15/in-india-prison-for-the-poor-bollywood-justice-for-the-elite/

[iii] (2019, April 25). Celebrities and crime: The unfairness in punishment between celebrities and the public All people should be equally punished for crimes. Massachusetts Daily Collegian. Retrieved June 4, 2025, from https://dailycollegian.com/2019/04/celebrities-and-crime-the-unfairness-in-punishment-between-celebrities-and-the-public/

[iv] Gregory, K. (n.d.). Celebrities: Who they are, how they gain popularity, and why society is so fascinated with then and their court cases. DigitalCommons@EMU. https://commons.emich.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?referer=&httpsredir=1&article=1149&context=honors

[v] Id.

[vi] Sturniolo, A. L. (2014). The Entertainment Effect: Do Those Within The Entertainment Industry Receive Preferential Treatment When Facing The Justice System? Law School Student Scholarship. https://doi.org/5-1-2014

[vii] Finke, N. (n.d.). Celebrity Justice: When Laws Are Broken, Fame Isn’t the Shield It Used to Be. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-10-05-vw-881-story.html