The dynamic between the glitterati of Bollywood and the ever-persistent paparazzi has witnessed an evolution in recent years. The paparazzi in the Indian entertainment capital, Mumbai, have become more than just fly-on-the-wall photographers hoping to catch a glimpse of celebrities at public appearances. Their role has expanded, and interestingly, interactions with celebrities can often be filled with lighthearted banter that often captures the fancy of social media.
A recent episode on YouTuber and podcast host Arhaan Khan’s show, Dumb Biryani, had two paparazzi guests, Sneh Zala and Vishal Mohan, who shared some behind-the-scenes stories and the evolving landscape of celebrity coverage. Arhaan, son of Bollywood actors Malaika Arora and Arbaaz Khan, facilitated a candid conversation in which the paparazzi duo divulged a few secrets from the industry, including some insights into the previously covert dating phase of Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal.
“One time, Katrina refused to let me take her picture, but a week later, she called me outside the YRF studio for exclusive shots,” recounted one of the paparazzi. He then disclosed an incident when their romance was still new, “I captured a photo of Katrina with Vicky Kaushal. She asked me to delete it and preferred to pose solo.” The act of deleting photos upon a celebrity’s request is just one example of the changing dynamics between celebrities and photographers. Now, with Kaif and Kaushal’s marital status public, the story provides an intriguing contrast to the media’s earlier attempts to uncover their relationship.
Pictures of celebrity couples spark a bigger frenzy than those of individual celebrities, as the paparazzi illustrated with the demand for snapshots of crowning Bollywood couples such as Ranveer Singh-Deepika Padukone and Sidharth Malhotra-Kiara Advani, as well as celebrated sports-cinema pair Virat Kohli-Anushka Sharma.
Sneh Zala revealed the planning that goes into covering celebrity events and hangouts, noting that securing a photo of superstar Shah Rukh Khan, especially during his dubbing sessions, can mean long hours of waiting. “He usually gets there after midnight and doesn’t leave until around 5-6 am,” he said. This is just a small glimpse into the patience required in the life of a paparazzo.
Discussing Shah Rukh Khan, Vishal spoke about the discretion they practice in their profession. There has been a subtle shift towards a more respectful approach, with paparazzi now more willing to desist from photographing celebrities who express discomfort. He emphasized the reciprocal nature of their relationship with the stars. When they respect a celebrity’s refusal to be photographed, the celebrity, in turn, remembers and respects them for their consideration. This mutual understanding has grown out of a broader dialogue on the importance of respecting the privacy of public figures.
The episode on Dumb Biryani not only shed light on how the paparazzi navigate their roles within the celebrity ecosystem but also underscored their adherence to an unspoken code of conduct that balances the public’s thirst for celebrity insights with the stars’ need for private spaces. This balance is critical in an age where every move can be captured, uploaded, and scrutinized within moments.
As the line between personal and public continues to blur for celebrities, the anecdotes shared by the paparazzi, Sneh Zala and Vishal Mohan, offer an intriguing peek into the inner workings of the tinsel town’s relationship with its chroniclers. They paint a picture of an evolving Bollywood landscape, where star sightings are meticulously orchestrated, privacy is negotiated, and the enigmatic lives of celebrities are selectively unveiled for public consumption.
