The ongoing tension between veteran actress and politician Jaya Bachchan and the media reached a new peak recently. Following her strongly worded remarks about the paparazzi, where she reportedly questioned their background, education, and even their clothing, a sharp reaction came from filmmaker and producer Ashok Pandit.
Pandit, a well-known voice within the film industry, did not mince words when criticizing Ms. Bachchan’s comments. He characterized her statement as having the “smell of snobbish elitism” and suggested that her attitude was inappropriate for a senior public figure and an elected Member of Parliament.
The initial remarks by Jaya Bachchan came during a public interaction where she expressed her profound dislike for the paparazzi culture. She criticized the photographers for their intrusive behavior, questioning their professionalism and saying they were people who wear “drain-pipe tight, dirty-dirty pants” and act as if having a mobile phone gives them the right to take anyone’s picture and pass comments. She even referred to them as “chuha” (rats) who sneak into people’s lives.
In response to this highly controversial statement, Ashok Pandit released a clear condemnation. His main argument centered on the idea that while one has the right to criticize aggressive media coverage, disparaging an entire profession based on class or perceived social status is completely wrong.
Pandit stated that the comments reeked of “arrogance” and an elitist mindset. He argued that it was unbecoming of a senior member of the film fraternity and a public servant to insult working professionals.
He pointed out that the paparazzi are hardworking individuals simply doing their job. He emphasized the irony that many celebrities, including their PR teams, often call these very photographers to events to ensure media coverage and publicity.
Pandit urged Ms. Bachchan to “look within herself” rather than directing her anger outward. He suggested that if she holds such strong negative views on paparazzi culture, the time has come for her to reflect on her own actions and relationship with the media, instead of making classist and judgmental remarks about their appearance or background.
This public back-and-forth highlights the deep, often uncomfortable, divide between a section of the established film industry and the modern, intrusive paparazzi culture that thrives on celebrity images. Ashok Pandit’s strong words have positioned him as a critic of what he sees as Jaya Bachchan’s entitlement and lack of humility towards the working professionals in the media field.
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