Why Are Paparazzi Zooming In Where They Shouldn’t?

News Desk

Islamabad: Actress Zareen Khan has strongly criticised the growing trend among paparazzi to capture female celebrities in inappropriate and intrusive ways, calling such behaviour “insulting” and “morally undesirable.”

In a recent interview, the Bollywood and regional cinema star expressed concern over the changing nature of celebrity coverage in India, particularly the media’s increasing focus on objectifying women through deliberate camera angles.

“I’m not saying all photographers do this, but many focus their cameras on parts of a woman’s body where it is absolutely unnecessary,” Khan said. “It is worrying and vile the way women are being portrayed.”

Khan, who made her debut in Veer opposite Salman Khan and later appeared in Housefull 2, Hate Story 2, and Hum Bhi Akele Tum Bhi Akele, said the trend of zooming in on body parts rather than highlighting achievements or appearances at events has become commonplace and concerning.

“Celebrities are known by their faces—not their waistlines or backs,” she remarked. “Are you showing a picture of a waist or back and asking the public to guess who the person is?”

Her remarks come amid growing backlash against sensationalist media practices. In recent months, several actresses—including Janhvi Kapoor, Shanaya Kapoor, Neha Bhasin, Rashmi Desai, Mona Singh, Ayesha Khan, and former Miss World Manushi Chhillar—have spoken out about feeling violated or uncomfortable due to invasive photography.

Khan noted that such content, which often goes viral on social media, is no longer entertaining for viewers. “At first, I thought the virality of these clips was the reason behind such coverage,” she said. “But now even the public has started to find this content vulgar and unpleasant.”

The actress recently confronted photographers at a public event where she was wearing a lemon-colored kurti with jeans and traditional earrings. After greeting the press, she turned around and gestured toward her waist, saying, “Look at me, don’t show that,” directly addressing the issue of intrusive photography. The clip has since gone viral and sparked widespread public support for her stance.

While acknowledging that not all media professionals engage in such practices, Khan urged the industry to reflect and reform. “This kind of behaviour is not only insulting—it’s a form of harassment,” she said.

Her comments add to the growing chorus demanding respectful, ethical coverage of female celebrities in an era where social media virality too often comes at the cost of dignity.