Esha Deol defends Jaya Bachchan, Hema Malini against paparazzi trolling
Synopsis
Esha Deol has turned the paparazzi-trolling debate on its head — arguing it is not the photographer pressing the shutter who is at fault, but the social media page managers engineering viral moments at the expense of Jaya Bachchan, Hema Malini, and other Bollywood legends. Her family-first framing and direct call to 'stick to your lanes' gives the long-running controversy a sharper, more personal edge.
Key Takeaways
Esha Deol publicly defended Jaya Bachchan and Hema Malini against paparazzi-driven social media trolling on 29 October 2026 .
She argued that social media page managers — not individual photographers — are responsible for encouraging disrespectful interactions to generate likes and traction.
Esha said her own family has experienced similar situations and described the conduct as 'not respectful at all.' She called on photographers to distinguish between celebrities who welcome banter and those who do not, urging them to 'stick to your lanes.' Jaya Bachchan has repeatedly been trolled online for her sharp responses to paparazzi; Hema Malini has faced similar criticism.
Actor Esha Deol has spoken out against the disrespectful treatment of veteran stars Jaya Bachchan, Hema Malini, and other industry elders by social media trolls and paparazzi, arguing on 29 October 2026 that the root cause lies not with individual photographers but with the people managing the pages that profit from such interactions.
What Esha Deol Said
In a candid conversation, Esha drew a pointed analogy to explain her position. 'When a child grows up into a teenager and is not really well-behaved, who do you blame? The parents, because they have not given the child the right upbringing. Similarly, I think, with this culture, the photographers are all being guided,' she said.
She placed responsibility squarely on those running social media pages rather than on the photographers themselves. 'I don't think it is the fault of the individual guy who is clicking the picture. It is whoever is running the pages who wants to put these things on their pages to attract more likes or traction. So, that is where I think the root cause needs to be addressed,' she added.
Personal Experience and Respect for Veterans
Esha acknowledged that her own family has faced similar paparazzi situations, and she was unambiguous in her assessment. 'We have been through this as a family, and I don't think it is respectful at all. If you ask me honestly, the industry is made of these people. Without taking names, they are all the pillars of our industry. You have to respect them, and they are the ones who have given you cinema to begin with,' she said.
The actor emphasised that the issue is not about eliminating paparazzi interaction altogether, but about reading the room. Photographers, she argued, must distinguish between celebrities who enjoy playful exchanges and those who clearly do not.
The Culture Behind Viral Paparazzi Clips
'So, give them that respect, and the ones who enjoy banter with you, do it with them. What is the harm? Because there is a section of people who enjoy doing it also,' Esha noted. She added a pointed instruction in a mix of Hindi and English: 'Yahaan pe karo hi mat aur yahaan pe karo jo karna hai (Don't do it here, and do whatever you want to do there). I think it is as simple as that.'
This comes amid a broader and recurring debate in Mumbai's film industry about the paparazzi culture that has grown substantially alongside social media. Veteran actors who are less familiar with the expectations of the 'pap moment' are frequently seen visibly uncomfortable when photographers direct them to pose in multiple directions for maximum camera coverage.
Background: Jaya Bachchan and Hema Malini in the Crosshairs
Jaya Bachchan has repeatedly found herself at the centre of online trolling for her impatient or sharp responses to photographers, with clips of her displeasure regularly going viral and generating significant online commentary. Hema Malini has similarly faced criticism for her interactions with paparazzi on several occasions. Both are widely regarded as foundational figures of Hindi cinema — a fact Esha used to anchor her argument for greater deference.
As the debate around paparazzi conduct and social media accountability continues to widen, Esha's remarks add a high-profile voice to calls for industry-wide reflection on how its icons are treated in public spaces.
Point of View
But the industry has largely stayed silent on the structural driver: engagement farming. What mainstream coverage often misses is that this is as much a platform-economics story as it is a celebrity-culture one. Until the incentive to post provocative veteran-actor clips is removed or reduced, no amount of appeals to respect will shift photographer behaviour on the ground.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Esha Deol speak out about Jaya Bachchan and Hema Malini being trolled?
Esha Deol spoke out because she believes veteran actors like Jaya Bachchan and Hema Malini — foundational figures of Hindi cinema — deserve basic respect from photographers and the public. She said her own family has experienced similar paparazzi situations and she does not consider the behaviour respectful.
Who does Esha Deol hold responsible for disrespectful paparazzi interactions?
Esha places primary blame on the people managing social media pages, arguing they guide photographers to provoke reactions from celebrities to generate more likes and traction. She says the individual photographer clicking the picture is not chiefly at fault.
Why has Jaya Bachchan frequently been trolled on social media?
Jaya Bachchan has repeatedly been trolled for her visibly impatient or sharp reactions when paparazzi direct her to pose in multiple directions. Clips of her displeasure regularly go viral, attracting heavy online commentary, both critical and supportive.
What advice did Esha Deol give to photographers?
Esha urged photographers to read the situation and respect each celebrity's comfort level — engaging in playful banter with those who enjoy it, while leaving others alone. She summarised it simply: 'stick to your lanes correctly.'
Has Hema Malini also faced paparazzi-related criticism?
Yes, Hema Malini has on several occasions faced criticism for her responses to paparazzi, though Jaya Bachchan has drawn comparatively more frequent online trolling for such interactions.
