Neetu Kapoor, Neha Dhupia, Salman Khan slam paparazzi 'back shots'
Synopsis
Three of Bollywood's biggest names — Neetu Kapoor, Neha Dhupia, and Salman Khan — have all publicly condemned the paparazzi habit of photographing actresses from behind. Kapoor's sharp sarcasm on 4 October is the latest in a pattern of high-profile callouts that have yet to produce a formal industry response, raising questions about whether words alone can change entrenched behaviour on the Mumbai celebrity circuit.
Key Takeaways
Neetu Kapoor sarcastically confronted paparazzi over 'back shot' photography outside a Mumbai venue on 4 October 2026 .
Actress Neha Dhupia previously called out the same practice at a Mumbai awards event, saying it was disrespectful and calling on photographers to stop.
Superstar Salman Khan backed Dhupia on 'Bigg Boss 20' , calling the practice 'disgusting' and urging women to stand up against it.
This is at least the third major public callout of the practice by prominent Bollywood figures, indicating a systemic rather than isolated issue.
No formal complaint or industry body action has been reported as of now.
Veteran Bollywood actress Neetu Kapoor has joined a growing chorus of film industry voices calling out the paparazzi practice of photographing actresses from behind, making her displeasure known with a pointed, sarcastic remark when photographers attempted to capture her from the back outside a Mumbai venue on Sunday, 4 October 2026.
What Neetu Kapoor Said
As the actress — last seen in 'Daadi Ki Shaadi' — walked towards her car after stepping out of an establishment, a paparazzo stationed at the venue called out for a back-facing shot. Kapoor turned around and shot back: 'Apko ya bada accha lagta hai na, back?' (You really enjoy this, don't you — the back shot?). The photographer denied the allegation, and Kapoor calmly got into her car and closed the door. The moment, captured on video, quickly circulated on social media.
Neha Dhupia's Earlier Confrontation
Kapoor is far from the first industry figure to raise this concern. Actress Neha Dhupia had previously confronted photographers directly at a Mumbai awards event, publicly calling out the practice as disrespectful. 'Yeh badtameezi se backshot kaun leta hai tum logon mein se? Band karo,' she told the assembled photographers — demanding to know who among them was taking such disrespectful back shots and asking them to stop. Dhupia added that her appeal was not limited to herself, but extended to all women in the industry who had repeatedly made the same request and were, in her words, 'tired of saying it again and again.'
Salman Khan's Blunt Backing
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan lent his considerable platform to the issue on reality show 'Bigg Boss 20', explicitly mentioning Dhupia by name and crediting her for having 'fought against it.' Khan called the practice 'disgusting,' questioned the mentality of photographers who persist after being told to stop, and urged women who object to such photographs to stand up for themselves. His message to repeat offenders among the paparazzi was blunt — if a photographer continues after being asked to stop, he said, turn around and slap him. The remarks drew significant attention given Khan's stature in the industry.
A Pattern, Not an Isolated Incident
The recurring nature of these objections — from multiple high-profile names over a sustained period — points to a systemic issue rather than a one-off complaint. This is at least the third major public callout of this specific practice by prominent Bollywood figures, underscoring that earlier appeals have not translated into a change in behaviour on the ground. Notably, all three voices — Dhupia, Khan, and now Kapoor — have made their objections in public settings, signalling an intent to hold photographers accountable in plain sight rather than through industry channels alone.
What Happens Next
No formal complaint or industry body action has been reported as of now. However, repeated high-profile objections of this kind have historically nudged informal norms within the paparazzi community and prompted discussions around a code of conduct for celebrity photography in India. Whether this latest wave of pushback leads to any structured response from film industry bodies or photographers' associations remains to be seen.
Point of View
And informal social pressure, however loudly delivered, has its limits. Salman Khan's instruction to 'slap' offending photographers is a sign of frustration, not a solution — and risks muddying a legitimate dignity argument with vigilante framing. The more productive route, which none of the three have yet pursued publicly, is to push film industry bodies like the Film Federation of India or the producers' guilds to formalise photography boundaries at events and public spots.
NationPress
4 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Neetu Kapoor say to paparazzi about 'back shots'?
On 4 October 2026, Neetu Kapoor sarcastically asked photographers outside a Mumbai venue, 'Apko ya bada accha lagta hai na, back?' — calling out their habit of taking photographs of actresses from behind. She then calmly got into her car without posing for the shot.
What did Neha Dhupia say about paparazzi back shots?
Neha Dhupia publicly confronted photographers at a Mumbai awards event, asking 'Yeh badtameezi se backshot kaun leta hai tum logon mein se? Band karo,' and said she was speaking on behalf of all women in the industry who were tired of repeatedly making the same request.
How did Salman Khan respond to the paparazzi back shot controversy?
Salman Khan addressed the issue on 'Bigg Boss 20', specifically crediting Neha Dhupia for fighting against it. He called the practice 'disgusting,' questioned the mentality of photographers who persist after being told to stop, and urged women to stand up for themselves.
Has any formal action been taken against paparazzi over this practice?
As of now, no formal complaint or action by an industry body has been reported. The objections by Kapoor, Dhupia, and Khan have all been made publicly but informally, without a structured industry-level response.
Why does the paparazzi back shot controversy keep resurfacing in Bollywood?
The issue recurs because there is no formal code of conduct governing paparazzi behaviour at public events or outside venues in India. Despite repeated public objections from multiple high-profile names, the absence of enforceable rules means the practice has continued.
