Paparazzi as Encroachers
Gen Z may know about Lady Diana but may not be aware of the reason her early death occurred in a car crash in 1997. As per the report of the British inquest, Operation Paget, it was concluded that the high-speed car crash resulted from the negligent driving of their driver, as well as the pursuing paparazzi. Lady Diana had, on various occasions, expressed her displeasure at the unusual media interest in her troubled life. It is, then, indeed tragic that her life was cut short by exactly the same forces. I recall this episode vividly because, as a teenager who admired her, I was shaken by what our collective hunger for her life was, which could have led the paparazzi to get more of her, earn more from her, and ultimately led to her death.
I see a similar pattern that, until recent times, did not prevail in India; that is, India is now moving from curiosity to voyeurism. Let me also say it is not merely the paparazzi or the mobile holders wanting a piece of the celebrity pie, but also the content seekers who keep looking for more - to go viral, to monetise, to break new stories, to start new gossip. India’s entertainment industry has grown by leaps and bounds over the last few decades, bringing with it not just global recognition but also the relentless media gaze.
The emergence of a paparazzi culture because of multiple media platforms has also led to a disturbing trend: the erosion of privacy, dignity, and respect for public figures. There is, of course, a caveat: the celebrity-paparazzi culture is an incestuous love-hate reality where both cannot do without each other due to the constant need to be visible, yet seek privacy between personal and public curiosity.
However, the very notion of privacy for public personalities has changed considerably. Increasingly, ‘known faces’ have little control, or even awareness, over when they might become a viral moment, simply because anyone who recognises them can record and share their presence without consent. This is why I feel India will need to rewire itself to the rules of privacy, and that shift should begin at the school education level.
This column is triggered by the recent illness and hospitalisation of the country’s much-loved veteran hero, Dharmendra. He, in the past, had often expressed his discomfort at being photographed during private family gatherings or personal outings. There are many instances in which he has requested privacy, only to have those appeals disregarded by persistent photographers. Yet recently, when he was rushed to the hospital, his earlier pleas went unheeded again, and an entire shameful episode of peeping toms was carried out. The paparazzi were not just reporting his visitors but also exploiting their emotions. It did not stop there; they also circulated a particularly vulnerable video of the actor with his family inside the hospital room.
When “Dhai Kilo kaHaath” fame actor and former MP Sunny Deol gave the media a lesson on privacy after his father returned home, the message resonated with everyone who was viewing the content on his health beyond the medical bulletin and updates from family.
The coverage was so intrusive that even the pizzas delivered to their home were being reported with visuals. Before that, there was the deeply shameful episode in which news of the legendary actor’s supposed passing was reported by all major news channels. It took the Mathura MP and wife of Dharmendra, HemaMalini, to publicly call them out. The rush to be first past the post, the news breakers, the TRP seekers - aka the vultures — often forget about the dignity and privacy of the families involved in their TRP news.
Similar video leaks emerged of the late Rishi Kapoor too, from the hospital he was in, and one could only feel sorry for the family grappling with grief while at the same time being subjected to constant media interest.
There are so many more examples that can be added — Sridevi, Sushant Singh Rajput and even Zarine Khan. A young actress of KaantaLaga fame, ShefaliZariwala, who was popular with the paparazzi, passed away suddenly. Attempts were made to weave a conspiracy where none existed, exposing the ugliness of the thriving conspiracy theory industry.
This finally brings me to the brave Rhea Chakraborty. In 2020, when the news of the tragic suicide of actor Sushant Singh Rajput was announced, in parallel, we saw an unprecedented media frenzy, with Rhea Chakraborty, his girlfriend, placed squarely in the spotlight. Her daily life became a public spectacle; even mundane acts like entering her apartment or visiting a police station were turned into viral moments.
The coverage often crossed ethical boundaries, turning her into a target of public vilification and bearing resemblance to the witch-hunts of earlier centuries. The media was relentless, the conspiracy theories went out of hand, and her being jailed was considered retribution. Not one person from this vulture class wanted to hear what she had to say because they were catering to a class that had been led to believe she was responsible.
Today, after having long fought not just for her bail but also her innocence and her passport, no one has the guts or the gumption to even offer her an apology. What I figure about Rhea is that she understands how the system runs, and she is now using the very medium to rebuild her place within it. Similar is the case of Aryan Khan - a public spectacle of a made-up drug case, arrest, and later bail - even through it all, his response was silence, and later via his directorial debut, he explained what he stands for without the need to spell it out.
The right to privacy is a fundamental human right, and respect for individual dignity is the cornerstone of a civilised society. The ongoing violation of these rights under the guise of entertainment journalism is a worrying trend. Media houses, photographers, and fans alike must introspect and adopt practices that balance public curiosity with decency and empathy. So, while celebrities do live in the public eye, the assumption that their every moment is fair game for public consumption is deeply problematic.
India’s burgeoning paparazzi culture reflects not just the appetite for celebrity news but also a deeper societal shift towards sensationalism over sensitivity. The various stories I have shared, of those I recall, serve as a stark reminder of the urgent need to restore dignity and respect to the lives of those who entertain and inspire us. Fame should not come at the cost of humanity; it is time for the lens to shift, for both the media and the audience, from voyeurism to responsible engagement.
The writer is a Member of the Rajya Sabha; views are personal
