Ridhi Dogra on Paparazzi Culture: "Problem is in Identification, Not Paps"

Actor Ridhi Dogra has shared her nuanced views on the evolving paparazzi culture, stating she is generally comfortable with photographers, especially when called by PR teams. She highlights that the real issue arises when photographers are present in personal spaces like salons without clear identification, making it difficult to distinguish them from strangers. Dogra emphasizes that this lack of identification can be particularly unsettling for women in public spaces. Meanwhile, the actor has joined the cast of the new reality competition show 'The 50', set to premiere in February.

Key Points: Ridhi Dogra on Paparazzi Privacy and Identification Issues

  • Comfortable with coordinated paparazzi
  • Discomfort with unidentifiable photographers
  • Privacy challenge for women
  • Accepts photography as part of profession
  • Joins new reality show 'The 50'
3 min read

"Don't think the problem is with paps, problem is in identification": Ridhi Dogra on evolving paparazzi culture

Actor Ridhi Dogra discusses evolving paparazzi culture, highlighting privacy concerns for women when photographers are not clearly identifiable.

"I don't think the problem is with paps. The problem is in identification. - Ridhi Dogra"

New Delhi, January 21

As pap culture has evolved over time, with celebrities photographed anytime, anywhere, staying prepared has become increasingly important. Actor Ridhi Dogra has shared her views on paparazzi culture, saying she does not see any problem with photographers, but believes the real issue lies in proper identification and the impact on personal privacy, particularly for women in public spaces.

Speaking about her experiences, Dogra said she is generally comfortable with the presence of paparazzi and even described many of them as "sweet." She noted that several paparazzi appearances are often coordinated by public relations teams themselves.

"... I think they are very sweet...most paps are in fact called by PR teams. My PR team calls them when they want to make a noise about something. They call them. And I'm happy..", Ridhi told ANI.

However, the actor noted that discomfort arises when photographers are present but not clearly identifiable. Recalling instances of being clicked outside salons or offices, Dogra said, "I go to places like a salon or office. They are always there. I always ask them, why are you here? So, there are places you don't call them..."

Dogra stressed the fact that the lack of proper identification makes it difficult to distinguish between professional photographers and strangers.

"Earlier, photographers used to have cameras so we could identify them. Now, like, I go to my salon, someone was sitting there, and you could not recognise if they were paps or not..If someone comes up and says they are from the media, you are comfortable. You know who they are and why they are there, but if you don't know who they are, the fans or someone is harassing you, it becomes difficult," she said, highlighting that such situations can be more challenging for women.

"... We're also women. So, it unsettles you because somebody is capturing you," she said.

She added that organised events are different as photographers are clearly segregated and identifiable. "So, I don't think the problem is with paps. The problem is in identification," she said.

The actor emphasised that she understands the realities of being a public figure and accepts that being photographed is part of the profession. "Of course, as a public person, you know pictures will be clicked," she said, noting that maintaining privacy at certain times is important.

Meanwhile, Ridhi has joined the cast of the new reality show 'The 50'. The show is the Indian version of a global reality format where contestants compete using instinct, strategy and emotional strength.

While talking about the show, she said, "I think reality shows are the way to go for Indian audiences and Indian television and OTT viewing, everybody wants to be on a reality show. And I'm on reality shows all the time... this show is very different. This is about dreams, it's about strategies and alliances. It's a game based on what you do. This is a very new concept. And I'm happy to do a show like this."

The 50 will premiere on February 1 on JioHotstar and Colors.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

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Aman W
Finally, a celebrity speaking sense! Most of the time, the paps are called by their own PR teams for publicity. Then they complain about privacy. Ridhi is being honest about how the industry actually works. Good for her.
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Sarah B
As someone who has worked in event management, I can confirm this. At organized events, photographers have passes. The real issue is the freelance ones who lurk outside personal spaces like homes or salons. That's a clear invasion.
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Rohit P
I appreciate her balanced view. She's not outright blaming the photographers, many of whom are just doing their job. The problem is systemic. Maybe the media houses and PR agencies need to agree on a code of conduct for outdoor, non-event shoots.
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Kavya N
It's always about the woman's safety, isn't it? A man might feel annoyed, but a woman feels threatened when an unidentified person is photographing her without context. Her discomfort is completely understandable. More celebs should speak up about this specific angle.
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Michael C
While I agree with her core point, I feel she's letting the paparazzi culture off a bit too easily. Calling them "sweet" normalizes a very intrusive industry. The demand for candid, invasive shots comes from us, the public, and that needs to change too.
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