Veteran actress and politician Jaya Bachchan has once again voiced her disapproval of the paparazzi culture, particularly calling out the trend of young actors summoning photographers for airport spottings. Speaking at the 'We The Women' event in Mumbai on Sunday, Bachchan didn't hold back while expressing her views on the conduct and credibility of the paparazzi.
Bachchan, known for her forthrightness, made it clear that she differentiates between the media and the paparazzi. "My relationship with the media is fantastic, I am the product of media, but my relationship with the paparazzi is zero," she stated. She emphasized her respect for journalists, drawing from her own background as the daughter of a journalist. However, she questioned the training and representativeness of the paparazzi, asking, "Who are these people? Are they trained to be representing the people of this country? You call them media?".
Her criticism extended to the behavior and appearance of some paparazzi members. She commented on their attire and informal approach, stating, "But yeh jo bahar drain pipe pant, gande-gande kapde pehen ke haath me mobile leke… they think that just because they have a mobile they can take your picture, and say what they want? And the kind of comments they pass?". She also questioned their backgrounds and education, asking, "Kahan se aatey he? Kis tarah ke education he? Kya background he?" which translates to "From where are these people coming? What is their education? What is their background?".
Bachchan also addressed the trend of celebrities, especially young actors, calling paparazzi to airports for photographs. She questioned the authenticity of such celebrity status, remarking, "Agar aapko apna photo nikalne ke liye airport pe camera bulana pade, so then what kind of a celebrity are you?" which translates to "If you have to call paps to the airport to take your photo, then what kind of celebrity are you?". While the statement "Young Toh Mera Grandson Bhi Hai" does not appear explicitly in the provided search results, it can be inferred that her comments were directed towards the younger generation of actors who actively seek paparazzi attention.
Furthermore, Bachchan addressed the hate she receives on social media, stating that she doesn't care about it. She shared an anecdote about a staff member informing her that she is the "most hated person on social media," to which she responded, "I don't give a damn. I don't care. You hate me; it's your opinion". She added, "My opinion, I dislike you immensely, because you think you can be like a rat, get into somebody's house with a mobile".
Bachchan's remarks are a continuation of her long-standing criticism of intrusive paparazzi behavior. She has often voiced her discomfort with photographers invading her personal space and has, on occasion, directly confronted them. Her recent statements at the 'We The Women' event further highlight her concerns about the evolving nature of celebrity culture and the role of paparazzi in it.
