Jaya Bachchan’s long-standing friction with the paparazzi is Bollywood folklore by now, and in recent years, the tension has only sharpened.
Time and again, she has been caught on camera chastising photographers, refusing to pose, or sternly reminding them to keep their distance. These moments routinely go viral, spawning a fresh crop of memes and reels that the internet gleefully circulates.
Jaya’s Interview with Barkha Dutt
Her stance is not new—Jaya has repeatedly maintained in interviews that she dislikes being photographed without her consent and finds the constant intrusion deeply disrespectful. But her latest remarks during an interview with Barkha Dutt have reignited the debate with more heat than ever. In an unguarded moment, she referred to paparazzi as “drainage tight… gandi pants” people, comments that many interpreted as insulting not just their work, but their socioeconomic background.
Media’s Angry Reaction
The reaction from media photographers was swift and angry. Offended by the derogatory language, several paparazzi groups announced that they would boycott coverage of her grandson Agastya Nanda’s upcoming film Ikkis.
Many pointed out the hypocrisy they perceive: while Jaya often lashes out at them, it is these very media workers who flock every Sunday to Amitabh Bachchan’s bungalow, capturing his weekly wave to fans—a tradition that benefits the family’s public image.
Jaya’s Anger Selective
To them, Jaya Bachchan’s disdain feels selective. She appears unbothered when the Bachchan family draws widespread attention from the same media she regularly scolds, yet remains openly hostile toward the photographers on the ground.
This contradiction has only fuelled further debate online, turning her latest comments into yet another flashpoint in her tumultuous relationship with the paparazzi.