The final days of veteran actor Dharmendra's life in November 2025 were overshadowed by a tense confrontation between his son, Sunny Deol, and the paparazzi. The incident, which occurred just days before Dharmendra's passing on November 24, 2025, sparked a major debate on celebrity privacy and media ethics in Bollywood.
A video had surfaced showing Sunny Deol at their Juhu residence, criticizing photographers with folded hands. In an emotional outburst, he questioned their methods, asking, “Do you have parents and kids at your place? No shame at all? Filming like total idiots.” This reaction drew widespread criticism from various quarters, including industry insiders.
Paparazzo Varinder Chawla's Detailed Response
Recently, senior paparazzo Varinder Chawla addressed the entire episode in detail on Siddharth Kannan’s podcast. He defended the actions of his colleagues, stating that the photographers were maintaining a respectful distance of 20 to 30 feet from the Deol family home.
“Let me clear one thing: Sunny paaji is also an angry person like Jaya Bachchan. That’s what his nature is like,” Chawla remarked. He explained that the media was merely documenting the outpouring of support for the beloved Dharmendra. “They wanted to show the audience how many Bollywood celebrities are visiting such a loved human being... This wasn’t happening for the first time. We’ve been doing it for ages.”
Addressing the Leaked Hospital Video and a Call for Polite Requests
Chawla clarified that the highly sensitive video showing the Deol family weeping beside Dharmendra's hospital bed, which further incensed Sunny, was not leaked by the paparazzi. “Dharmendra’s leaked video from the hospital wasn’t our fault. I don’t know what your problems are internally, but you take it out on us?” he stated.
He emphasized that the situation could have been handled differently. Chawla pointed out that Sunny Deol has a professional PR team that could have made a simple request. “You could’ve just requested through your PR that you’re a bit emotionally down and need privacy, we would’ve stepped aside. When have we not?” He noted that his team had previously posted the official family statement on Dharmendra's health when provided.
Industry Reactions and the Aftermath
Chawla revealed that even before seeing Sunny's clip, he had seen filmmaker Karan Johar's Instagram Story appealing for media restraint. “I immediately called up my team and asked them to not go to Dharmendra’s residence any longer... My team didn’t go there again till the news of Dharmendra’s death came along,” he added.
The incident also reignited veteran actress Jaya Bachchan's longstanding critique of certain sections of the media. In an interview with Mojo Story, she sharply distinguished between trained journalists and paparazzi, questioning their credentials and the nature of their intrusion.
This series of events highlights the ongoing, fragile balance between the public's right to know, a celebrity's right to privacy during personal crises, and the evolving dynamics of media coverage in the digital age.
