Taapsee Pannu on Wednesday said she takes comparisons with veteran actor Jaya Bachchan as a compliment and defended her conduct towards the paparazzi, stating that firm personal boundaries are often perceived as intimidation.
Actor rejects 'rude' tag, frames it as boundary assertion
Speaking to News18, Taapsee — who is currently streaming in the role of Gandhari on Netflix — acknowledged that netizens have at times compared her to Jaya Bachchan for her blunt interactions with photographers. She said the comparison is flattering and that she views clear boundaries as a virtue rather than an offence.
"I think that’s a compliment. I only look at the brighter side. She’s a very good actor and a very solid woman. People are being too kind by comparing me to her," the actor said, according to News18.
The actor pointed to a widely reported episode from 2022 during the promotions of Dobaaraa, when an exchange with the paparazzi led to criticism and led some in the fraternity to brand her as "rude and angry." Taapsee said she has never raised her voice at anyone and that her objections relate to behaviour she considers discourteous or intrusive.
On gender expectations and paparazzi behaviour
Taapsee said that women who assert their personal boundaries can unsettle certain members of the press. She argued that there is an expectation that female celebrities should be "more submissive and extra polite," and that her refusal to comply with that stereotype invites criticism.
She told News18 that she does not abuse anyone, emphasising that her stance is about maintaining dignity and self-respect. According to the report, she added that she is often the one who is shouted at by paparazzi rather than the other way round.
- Incident cited: 2022 promotion of Dobaaraa where Taapsee clashed with photographers.
- Present work: Taapsee is seen as Gandhari, which is streaming on Netflix.
- Media reaction: A paparazzo had publicly said members of the fraternity do not enjoy photographing her because of her behaviour, according to previous reporting.
Context and consequences for celebrity–media relations
The exchange highlights ongoing tensions between celebrities and paparazzi in India’s entertainment capitals. Incidents such as the 2022 confrontation often generate debate on the limits of media access, personal space and the responsibilities of public figures. Taapsee’s remarks add a gendered dimension to that debate by suggesting expectations around demeanour differ for women in the public eye.
Her assertion that she has not raised her voice counters the narrative created by some accounts after the earlier episode. The paparazzi fraternity’s grievances — including an account that some photographers avoid calling on her — remain part of the public record, as previously reported.
While public figures and the media negotiate access and cover, the debate frequently returns to questions of civility, harassment and professional conduct on both sides. Taapsee’s comments are likely to reopen conversations about how female celebrities are expected to comport themselves during public interactions and promotional duties.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Current project | Gandhari on Netflix |
| Notable past incident | 2022 Dobaaraa promotion clash with paparazzi |
| Comparison | Jaya Bachchan — described by Taapsee as a compliment |
The actor’s remarks, as published by News18, outline her perspective but do not include corroboration from members of the paparazzi. The earlier 2022 episode and subsequent statements by a paparazzo that some in the fraternity prefer not to photograph her were widely carried in news reports at the time.
Taapsee’s defence of her conduct — framed as an insistence on clear boundaries and dignity — is now part of an ongoing national conversation about the relationship between public figures and the media, and how expectations of behaviour differ by gender.
Reporting is based on the interview published by News18.
