Can't Even Walk Confidently: Actors Call Out Paparazzi For Distasteful Pics

In recent paparazzi videos, it's common to hear celebrities saying things like, "Don't take bad angles" and "Please don't shoot from behind." More and more actors are calling out paparazzi for taking unflattering photos of female celebrities from the wrong angles. They described this practice as "distasteful," "exhausting," "unfortunate," "sad," "disrespectful," and whatnot. This issue has sparked a wider conversation about the invasion of privacy and the need for respectful treatment of all individuals, especially women, in the public eye.

Actors are now urging for a change, highlighting the negative impact such actions have on their personal and professional lives. Here are some of the actors who spoke out and what they said.

Actors Call Out Paparazzi For Wrong Angles

Mona Singh

Mona Singh said, "They keep focusing on women's bodies inappropriately. Would they do this to a man by zooming into their crotch when they walk? No, they wouldn't. But they do it to every woman." She feels photographers sometimes wait for wardrobe malfunctions just to post sensational pictures on social media. She wants more women to stand up against this behaviour.

Singh added in a conversation with News18 Showsha, "Whether you attend an event or go to an award function, these are the kinds of videos you keep seeing of yourself. I think every woman actor should stand up and speak out against it. It's really not cool what they do. It's almost like they wait for some mistake to happen."

Neha Sharma

Neha Sharma also spoke about the invasion of privacy by photographers, saying, "There are days when you don't want to be seen, so you take a break, like I did recently. But staying visible is important these days. The angles they use can be distasteful. As a woman, you lose the freedom to dress however you want. When you're in the public eye, you have to be careful because things can go out of line."

She added in a conversation with India Today, "On the other side, their livelihood depends on this. They support their families by taking these photos and videos. They stand in the sun all day, waiting for one shot. There are always two sides to things. When you think about it, you realise you're also helping a family, and that's really beautiful."

Janhvi Kapoor

Janhvi Kapoor too shared that she has been feeling "not so confident" lately because of being photographed from the "wrong angles." She mentioned that while most photographers are respectful, some are motivated to take pictures in a certain way to create clickbait.

Kapoor said to The Indian Express that some photographers don't respect the personal space of celebrities. They might take a normal video but use a cover photo with a bad angle to make it look sensational, especially with women. This makes her feel uncomfortable. "I can't even walk confidently because I'm constantly thinking, 'Be careful; you might be clicked from a bad angle.' It's sad and unfortunate, and I hope things get better. It's not respectful," she said.

She also mentioned that there was a time when she would say "bye" to photographers without realising why they asked her to do it. Now she feels it was naive. She added that there are unfair judgements about a woman's clothes, character, and sexuality, which is exhausting. Kapoor hopes the media and paparazzi become more aware of these issues.

Hina Khan

Hina Khan, in conversation with SheThePeople, voiced her frustration with paparazzi trying to control how she poses. "When it comes to public appearances, I wear what I want and show skin because I choose to, not to grab attention," Khan stated, highlighting her control over her image.

She explained her views on self-expression, noting the difference between personal choice and outside influence. "It's not double standards; it's my choice. If I'm wearing something or showing my skin, it's my decision. But I won't pose at someone else's command, even in public." She stressed the importance of staying true to oneself, saying, "That agency remains mine."

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Nora Fatehi

In an interview with News18, Nora Fatehi also spoke about this issue, "I guess they’ve never seen a butt like that before. It is what it is. The media doesn’t just do it to me but to other female actors too. Maybe they don’t zoom into their butt because it’s not exciting, but they zoom into other body parts unnecessarily. Sometimes, I think there's nothing to zoom into, so what are they focusing on?"

Mrunal Thakur

Mrunal Thakur in conversation with iDiva said, "I faced this problem until I talked to the paps. I showed one of them a chat with my mother, where she said in Marathi, ‘However you dress, they focus there only’. So, I asked, should I stop getting clicked or change my route when I see you? They know my car, so we can’t even ignore them."

She continued, "I told them I respect your profession, and you need to respect me, my identity, and who I am. When my family and friends see these pictures, it doesn’t leave a good impression. They’ve understood, and I’m happy others are talking about it too. I don’t know why some don’t speak up; maybe they are okay with it. They can go and pap them that way, but not us."