Salman Khan says some actresses pay paparazzi for staged photos

Salman Khan is drawing a sharper line in Bollywood’s paparazzi debate. On the latest Bigg Boss 20 episode, the host sat down with Roadies Rising gang leaders Neha Dhupia, Abhishek Malhan, Prince Narula and Rannvijay Singha, and the conversation turned to one of entertainment’s most uncomfortable subjects: photographers who take pictures from angles celebrities have asked them to avoid.

His comments came after months of debate about how far cameras should go when stars are simply walking to a car or entering a venue. Paparazzi images are a huge part of how Bollywood fans keep up with their favourites, but the same ecosystem has been criticised for normalising shots taken without clear permission.

The discussion began when Neha thanked Salman for calling out intrusive celebrity photography. She said his was one of the few voices with the reach to make the industry listen. “The stand you took was one that demanded a response,” she said.

A line between invited and unwanted frames

Salman said the issue is not whether photographers are doing a job, but whether they respect consent. He pointed out that some actors and actresses invite photographers, pay them to be there, and ask for a specific image. Others, he said, clearly ask for that picture not to be taken. The two situations cannot be treated the same.

“Do it if you want to,” he said of celebrities who choose to pose for such images. But for those who say no, he argued, the cameras should stop.

Paparazzi pages put on notice

The actor also said some pages had treated his earlier warning as a joke. He promised stronger action, saying he would take a big stand against those who continued after being asked to stop. Neha’s praise on the episode signalled that other public figures see him as an ally in a running argument about privacy and access.

Salman’s distinction:

• Some celebrities call the paparazzi, pay them, and request a particular shot.
• Others ask photographers clearly not to take that picture.
• Consent, not access, should decide where the camera goes.
• Pages that keep crossing the line after a warning should face consequences.

For the audience, that distinction matters because it changes which photos deserve attention. A staged frame is an exchange; an unwanted frame is something else entirely.

Why the paparazzi question keeps returning

Bollywood’s paparazzi culture runs on candid airport and gym moments, but the line between fan access and intrusion has long been contested. Salman’s remarks move the conversation away from the idea that every image is simply candid and toward permission. After his September warning on Bigg Boss, public figures such as Farah Khan also asked photographers to skip inappropriate angles.

What makes this episode different is the claim that some stars arrange and pay for images. That reframes the problem: it is less about the camera itself and more about whether a celebrity’s no is being honoured once it has been said.

The next test will be whether paparazzi pages treat this as another news cycle or as a working rule. Salman has made his position plain, and Neha’s thanks shows why the moment landed with the industry.

Source: Hindustan Times

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#Bigg Boss 20#Bollywood#celebrity privacy#Neha Dhupia#Paparazzi#Roadies Rising#Salman Khan