MUMBAI: A public debate has erupted between two veteran Bollywood actors and political figures, Jaya Bachchan and Shatrughan Sinha, concerning the professional conduct and attire of paparazzi photojournalists, following sharp criticism leveled by Ms. Bachchan.
Jaya Bachchan recently sparked controversy by publicly questioning the paparazzi’s choice of clothing, asking why they do not wear appropriate attire for public events. She went further, stating their clothing was inappropriate (“dirty like drainpipes”) and alleging that many photographers lack professional training and conduct.
Conversely, actor and politician Shatrughan Sinha utilized a magazine launch event in Mumbai to publicly defend the media professionals. With characteristic humor, he implicitly mocked Bachchan’s earlier comments by complimenting the photojournalists, saying they wore “good shirts and pants,” much to the delight and amusement of the audience and co-attendees, including actress Poonam Dhillon.
Sinha’s intervention serves as a direct counter-narrative to Bachchan’s remarks, highlighting the deeply divided opinions among celebrities regarding their professional relationship with the press. Jaya Bachchan has not yet issued any clarification regarding her initial controversial statements.
