Veteran Bollywood actor Jaya Bachchan has never been one to mince her words, and in a recent candid interview, she took a firm stand against the modern culture of paparazzi and orchestrated celebrity spotting. The conversation, which has since gone viral, sheds light on the stark difference she sees between respectable media and what she terms as intrusive paparazzi.
‘Fantastic’ Media vs. ‘Zero’ Paparazzi
Speaking with journalist Barkha Dutt on the show #WeTheWomen, Jaya Bachchan drew a clear line between the media she respects and the paparazzi she disdains. "My relationship with media is fantastic, I am the product of media. But my relationship with paparazzi is zero," she stated emphatically. She questioned the credentials of paparazzi, asking, "Who are these people? Are they trained to be representing the people of this country? You call them media?"
Bachchan, whose father was a journalist, expressed her deep-rooted respect for professional journalism, a legacy she is proud of. However, she did not hold back in her criticism of individuals who, in her view, invade privacy with nothing more than a mobile phone.
The 'Chuha' Comment and Social Media Hate
Jaya Bachchan's most scathing remarks were reserved for the methods and demeanor of the paparazzi. She described them as people wearing "gande, tight pant" (cheap tight pants) who believe a mobile phone grants them the right to take pictures and pass inappropriate comments. "What kind of people are these people? Kahan se aate hain, kis tarah ka education hai?" she questioned, highlighting her concerns about their background and intent.
She powerfully compared them to rodents, stating, "You think that you can be like a chuha (rat) who can get into somebody’s house with a mobile camera." This strong analogy underscores her view of their actions as a gross invasion of personal space.
The actor also touched upon the topic of online hate, revealing that a staff member told her she is one of the most hated personalities on social media. To this, Bachchan responded with characteristic defiance: "I said that I don’t care, I don’t give a damn. You hate me, it’s your opinion. My opinion is that I dislike you immensely."
Critique of Orchestrated Airport Appearances
Beyond the paparazzi themselves, Jaya Bachchan also criticized a growing trend among celebrities who actively seek out this attention. She specifically called out the practice of celebrities calling photographers to airports to get deliberately photographed. "If you have to call people to take your photos at the airport, what kind of celebrity are you?" she questioned, expressing her clear disapproval of what she sees as a hollow pursuit of fame.
She mentioned that while many young actors today are active on social media and in paparazzi videos, her own grandson, Agastya Bachchan, is not on any social networks, hinting at the family's values regarding privacy and public life.
On the professional front, fans can look forward to seeing Jaya Bachchan next in Vikas Bahl’s Dil Ka Darwaaza Khol Na Darling, following her last appearance in the 2023 blockbuster Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahani.
