Huma Qureshi recently opened up about her experiences navigating Bollywood’s paparazzi culture, reflecting on both its challenges and her own strategies for maintaining privacy. Her comments come in the backdrop of veteran actor and politician Jaya Bachchan’s recent criticism of paparazzi.
On invasions of privacy
Speaking to India Today, Huma acknowledged the complex relationship between celebrities and the media, saying, “Everyone is doing their job. It’s an ecosystem. I won’t comment on the paparazzi specifically. But I think if we look at the entire media and audience from one perspective, we all have a responsibility to talk to a person in the right way. There should be a proper way of communicating. We might not agree with someone, or someone might want to know something from us.”She also addressed the invasions of privacy that female actors often face, recounting instances where inappropriate questions were asked or photos were taken from uncomfortable angles. “There’s a limit, which I think people should never cross. But we do cross that line, that’s the reality. As a female actress, I have experienced all of this,” she said.
Rapport with the paparazzi
On her professional rapport with the paparazzi, Huma was candid, “I have a very healthy relationship with the paparazzi. I think they are also important. I won’t lie, but we use them when we need to promote our films or bring a certain aspect of our lives into the public eye. There have been times when we needed to promote our films, so we invited them to premieres. When we want to be spotted somewhere, we call them. I don’t want to put all the blame on them.” Huma added that over her 10–12 year career, she has built a respectful relationship with the paparazzi. If she feels she doesn’t look her best, she can ask them not to post certain pictures, and they usually respect her request. She acknowledges that not everyone may have the same experience, and that in the past, photos were taken from unflattering angles—but now she feels confident to set boundaries.
