A stark picture of a manufactured reality within Bollywood is emerging, with veteran photographers and journalists lifting the curtain on a system of orchestrated crowds, paid media, and sidelined press. The debate, reignited by recent remarks from industry insiders, points to a growing chasm between the perceived stardom and the carefully managed public interactions.
The Paparazzi Perspective: Invited, Yet Sidelined
Varinder Chawla, a paparazzo with over 25 years of experience, provided a nuanced view of the dynamics. He clarified that while photographers are often invited to official events like trailer launches and parties, the narrative that PR teams summon them for every outing is misleading. For airport spotting, teams operate 24/7, including at Mumbai's private airport, relying on internal sources and even memorizing actors' car numbers.
However, Chawla highlighted a troubling trend where PR teams inflate crowd numbers. "I went to an event recently, and I saw so many photographers there... the PR told me that he needed 60 people at the venue, so he called those photographers and filled the space with them," he revealed. This practice, he warned, often backfires as unidentified individuals or YouTubers in these crowds may later post negative comments about the stars.
Fan Clubs Front and Centre, Media Pushed Back
The preference for adulation over interrogation has become a standard protocol, according to insiders. Varinder Chawla pointed out that at events where media is invited, fan club members are often strategically placed in front. "They want shor-sharaba (noise and clamour) of fan clubs to make the actor happy. Then why are they calling senior journalists?" he questioned, noting that journalists are frequently barred from asking questions amidst the orchestrated noise.
This tactic was notably observed during the high-profile trailer launch of Shah Rukh Khan's Jawan. Journalist Hina Kumawat described the scene where barricades were used to place the media at the back, while fan club members occupied the front rows. The journalists were reportedly not permitted to ask any questions, turning the event into a spectacle of pure celebration rather than a press interaction.
The Pervasive Culture of Paid Applause
Journalist Vickey Lalwani shed light on the entrenched "paid culture" within the Hindi film industry, drawing parallels with political rallies. "During interviews, the 200 people sitting in the audience are all paid. Take any platform, nobody from that 200 crowd... will ask discomforting or tough questions," he stated. This creates a sanitized environment where stars only hear praise.
Elaborating on the mechanics, journalist Heena Kumawat explained the "package deal" system during film promotions. PR agencies promise to deliver a certain number of media personnel, but often a significant portion of that group is compensated. "What they don't tell the makers is that 40 from that 60 is paid media," she revealed.
Ujjawal Trivedi, another journalist, highlighted how the ecosystem feeds itself. He noted that some PR agencies now fund their own websites to publish favourable content, bypassing traditional media filters. "Stars have created a jhoothi duniya (false world) around them, and they think that so many people are clapping for them," Trivedi concluded, summarizing the core issue of an industry increasingly insulated from genuine feedback and critique.
The revelations paint a concerning portrait of Bollywood's public engagement, suggesting a move towards controlled narratives and echo chambers, distancing stars from the critical scrutiny that has long been a part of media interactions.
