Bollywood actress and parliamentarian Jaya Bachchan sparked a sharp conversation around paparazzi culture during her recent appearance at the We The Women summit, where she openly criticised the behaviour of photographers who chase celebrities for unfiltered moments. Drawing a clear distinction between responsible journalism and the current paparazzi ecosystem, she expressed strong disdain for the way certain photographers operate in the entertainment industry today.
Speaking on stage, she said, “I am the product of a media. But my relationship with paparazzi is zero. Who are these people? Are they trained to be representing the people of this country? You call them media? I come from media. My father was a journalist. I have immense respect, tremendous respect for such people.”
She went on to question the professionalism and conduct of paparazzi commonly seen outside airports, restaurants, gyms, and film studios. “Magar yeh jo bahar drainpipe tight, gande gande pant pehen ke, haath mein mobile leke… they think that because they have a mobile, they can take your picture and say what they want. And the kind of comments they pass — what kind of people are these people? Kahan se aate hain? Kis tarah ka education hai? Kya background hai?”
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Her remarks instantly struck a chord online, stirring debate among media professionals, fans, and social media users. Many praised her for calling out the lack of training and ethics within the paparazzi system, while others argued that the paparazzi play a key role in shaping celebrity visibility in today’s social-media-driven landscape.
The actress, who has often maintained a private personal life despite her public profession, reiterated that her criticism was not directed at the media at large but at the unregulated and increasingly aggressive form of paparazzi culture that has taken root in recent years. She emphasised the need to distinguish between responsible journalism and casual, often intrusive content creators who blur ethical boundaries in pursuit of viral moments.
Her comments have reignited conversations about privacy, professionalism and the accountability of those who document public figures in India’s booming celebrity ecosystem.
The post Jaya Bachchan criticises paparazzi’s ‘unprofessional’ behaviour; says, “My relationship with paparazzi is zero” appeared first on Bollywood Hungama.
