Actors, famous sportsmen and celebrities could be rubbing shoulders with you on friends’ lists on Facebook. In a new twist to millions of fans reaching out to Tweeting celebrities on the Internet, now youngsters jazz up their profile by adding celebrities to their Facebook account.

So don’t be taken aback when you glance at a friend’s Facebook profile and see well-known celebrities in the friends’ list alongside your own picture. Wonder how your friends made these new friends? Simply send a request to a celebrity and most often you can add them to your list and your page turns hip.

Many youngsters are adding celebrities randomly to their Facebook account to flaunt their new ‘friendships’ and appear cool among their peers.

Other youngsters do not rely on cyberspace — they request friends who know celebrities to introduce them since they hope this will ensure the glamorous set remember their face.

Venkat. N, a Class 12 student, added actor Vishal on his friends’ list and says he was thrilled to see Vishal on Facebook. "I love Vishal’s acting and I was jumping for joy when I saw him on Facebook. I immediately wanted to add him on my list. When I sent him a request saying ‘I’m a big fan’, he accepted my request. I was so excited and even my friends added him after I told them."

Venkat says his friends think he is uber-cool now and a few have sent him messages saying, "How do you know Vishal?’

Karthik. K, a student of Sathyabama University, says things can turn awkward. "A few of my friends just add these celebrities on to their Facebook account and ask me to introduce them as I’m family friends with a few of actors."

He says it is absurd to be asked such favours. But in reality, people view a profile page without celebrity friends as uncool, he says.

Actor Srikanth has not joined the site, as he does not want to disappoint fans. He found a fake profile in his name already exists with more than 1,000 friends on Facebook. "The reason why I don’t want to be on Facebook is unknown people send me requests and I don’t want to appear rude by declining."

Some popular faces do not entertain or add strangers. Dr Priya Selvaraj, a well-known gynaecologist says, "I keep getting requests from strangers whom I don’t even know. They add us to get noticed among their friends and I don’t want them to know what my personal life is all about.’

She is wary about strangers peeping into her personal life. "I’m very particular when it comes to adding friends and I don’t encourage strangers at all."

Shreesha S. Reddy

The Asian Age