Should Bollywood celebs use lookalikes to deal with fame?

British boy band One Direction may have started searching for lookalikes to give its members a break from the paparazzi, but back home, Bollywood does not seem to believe in the trick.

King of pop Michael Jackson also had a well-known lookalike, who ran into controversy for allegedly attending the late legend’s last press meet. Singer Lady Gaga, too, manages her wide fanbase with her lookalike. The singer, who visited india in 2010, used her lookalike to pose for fan photos Rapper Kanye West also spent $2mn on a doppelganger so he could spend time with partner Kim Kardashian.

However, on the Indian scene, apart from stunt doubles and funny face clones making news, celebs don’t seem to use lookalikes for dealing with fame.

“Isn’t that cheating? The big stars here go to so many cities to meet fans. Imagine what event firms will do if they learn that stars are using doubles!” says filmmaker Kunal Kohli.

Ad guru Prahlad Kakkar feels Indian stars are too happy with the limelight to want to get away from it: “Stars love the adulation they get from fans. No one would want to jeopardise that with lookalikes.”