Varinder Chawla, a seasoned celebrity photographer and veteran paparazzo, has openly expressed concerns about the escalating paparazzi culture in India, which he believes is increasingly infringing on celebrities’ privacy. He addressed the paparazzi’s obsession with Taimur Ali Khan, the son of Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan.
The Obsession With Taimur Ali Khan
Taimur Ali Khan, the son of Bollywood stars Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor, has been the subject of intense media attention since birth. Chawla recalls an incident where 50 people surrounded Taimur while seated in a car with his nanny. This incident not only reveals the extent of the paparazzi’s obsession with celebrity children but also highlights the vulnerability of these young ones in the face of such intrusive attention.
“There was a time when if we didn’t post pictures of Taimur, our posts would get comments like, ‘Aaj Taimur ka photo nahin aaya.’ Our DMs would be flooded with queries. We started taking his photos because Kareena and Saif initially allowed it, and the pictures went viral. The paparazzi then began clicking him obsessively because people adored his cuteness.”
The Impact Of Paparazzi Culture
Chawla highlighted the intrusive nature of the paparazzi culture, stating that photographers started following Taimur 24/7, even to his school and tuition. This constant surveillance not only disrupted the child’s personal life but also raised serious concerns about the psychological impact on him, leading Saif Ali Khan to request the paparazzi to avoid certain places like school and tuition.
“One of Kareena’s best traits is that she never said no to a photographer. She would graciously oblige the paps. We would spot Taimur outside their residence, and she had no objection. Demand badh gayi thi ki hum kya karte?. 24 ghante uske peeche rehna shuru kar diya tha. Woh school ja raha hota tha toh uske peeche jaate the, tuition ja raha hota tha toh tuition jaate the. We would follow him when we would be playing. Bacche ki personal life humlogon ne disturb karna shuru kar di thi. Tab unhone request kiya that ki kuch jagahon par aap mat ayiye, jaise school ya tuition. (The demand increased so much that we began following him 24/7. Whether he was going to school or tuition, we were there. We even followed him while he played. We started disturbing the child’s personal life. That’s when they requested us to avoid certain places like school and tuition.)”
The Role Of Social Media
The public’s insatiable demand for Taimur’s photos on social media platforms was so intense that if Chawla refrained from posting pictures of Taimur, his posts would be flooded with comments like, ‘Aaj Taimur ka photo nahin aaya.’ This relentless demand directly contributed to the paparazzi’s escalating intrusive behaviour.
The Need For Boundaries
Chawla’s revelations underscore the urgent need for public awareness and action to address the paparazzi culture. While the public has a legitimate interest in celebrities, respecting their privacy, particularly regarding their children is equally crucial.