Veteran actor Jaya Bachchan has once again sparked controversy with fresh, scathing comments about the paparazzi, stating she has a “zero relationship” with them and questioning their training, background, and appearance. Her remarks, made during an interaction with journalist Barkha Dutt on Monday, drew immediate and angry reactions from photographers who cover the entertainment industry.
When asked about her equation with the paparazzi, Bachchan expressed immense respect for the traditional media, stating her father was a journalist. However, she directed harsh criticism at those with mobile phones gathering outside.
“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?” she stated.
Paparazzi React with Anger and Threat of Boycott
In response to Bachchan’s comments, leading paparazzi figures slammed the actor for judging their appearance and threatening to boycott the promotions of her family members’ films.
Pallav Paliwal called the comments “unfortunate” and reminded Bachchan of the paps’ significance, especially for her family. “Her grandson Agastya’s film Ikkis is going to release, what if the paps don’t come to cover the promotions,” he said. Paliwal stressed that paps are the primary source for social media—a faster medium than print or electronic—and should not be judged based on appearance.
Veteran photographer Manav Manglani defended the profession but admitted that the sudden influx of YouTubers and individual content creators has created chaos. “She has not yet evolved with the digital era. The transformation from print to digital is hard for her to grasp,” Manglani said, suggesting her family should educate her on the shift.
Varinder Chawla expressed deep disappointment and revealed that he previously protected Amitabh Bachchan’s image by choosing not to post a video where the veteran actor allegedly pushed and yelled at a fan. Chawla emphasized the need for self-respect and suggested a boycott of the Bachchan family coverage. “The paps which she is targeting, are they all paps, or YouTubers and fans in the mix too? Kisi ko aise bura mat boliye,” he urged.
The row underlines the continuous friction between certain high-profile celebrities and the relentless demands of the modern media landscape.