India’s Celebrity Hunters | 101 East Documentary

India is obsessed with its stars - from the entertainment world to cricket.
An insatiable thirst for celebrity gossip and glimpses into their personal lives means there is never a shortage of paparazzi hovering close by, ready to capture that candid moment.
The photographers are often poorly paid and subject to violent tirades by those they follow, but many revel in the adrenaline of the chase.
While some celebrities have a combative relationship with the paparazzi, there is a growing realisation that they need the photographers to help them curate their image.
101 East meets the paparazzi behind the lens.
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India's Celebrity Hunters: The Obsession with Mehta Brothers
india’s celebrity hunters

[@wildcat.7834]

As an Indian myself I am shocked by this celebrity worship ,why are they so important,after all they are human like the rest of us.Totally weird.

[@erronblack5015]

I guess they earn from it

[@ImplicitShadehindi]

*sab paisa ki khel hey*

[@memchakonthoujam3413]

people are into fantasy. even european worship football it is natural

[@tamimmolla7054]

it is also very weird to me i wouldn't even bother to wow and smile.

[@ManishKumar-sr8zh]

in many people's minds, celebs are not humans. They are Gods. Hence the extreme interest.

[@Emhe09]

Both sides are involved in this business. It is not they are only chasing stars, rather the stars inform them early where they are going and what they are doing.

[@KanhaiyaLal-if9uj]

P0o Closing fgv co nnvghxh cz xxxx v of chocolate ji unnnzz

[@kuttysrank5]

And we as the audience are the biggest issue, why do we need to know such private lives and things of stars ? If we stop 🛑 Then this chase will stop.

[@S_Parveen]

Only wannabes like urfi

[@aditichakrabarti1482]

@@kuttysrank5 these celebs hire PR relentlessly, show off their flashy lifestyle and then r upset about ppl chasing them😃🤣

[@virenbhale8896]

This is one of the most complete documentaries covering all aspects of a paparazzi's life. This should be shown to a larger crowd.

[@aljazeeraenglish]

We're glad you liked our documentary, dear Viren. Many thanks for watching. 🙌

[@adityasaini8161]

@@aljazeeraenglish 🤔

[@hakimahmad2826]

@Al Jazeera English b b llli . Po

[@rishiraaj.580]

Ya 👍

[@rishiraaj.580]

@@aljazeeraenglish Make More Such Informative Documentaries 👍

[@Qetuowry135]

Celebrities invite the paparazzi and then act surprised to actually see them. 😂😂

[@arshchauhan5935]

Not all dear …

[@aditichakrabarti1482]

@@arshchauhan5935 but most of them dear😃

[@tausif619]

not all and not evertime 🤦

[@konarkkd3264]

@@aditichakrabarti1482 No kid. That's not true at all.

[@KK-hy6zn]

Bullshit. These celebs are the ones that give tips to the big shots of paparazzi media companies about where they are going and stuff so they stay relevent in social media.

[@fenimorefillmore5322]

India has to grow out of the mindset of Bollywood actor being god and stop paying attention to them

[@SAU1254]

Thank god 🙏someone got it right

[@anonymousishere2905]

Same goes for all the artists around the world. Including the Hollywood stars and K-pop and 💜ᗷTS⟭⟬💜as well.

[@someshsalunke2731]

its already happening. With everything being so easily accessible on OTT, people only go to cinemas for big budget films or maybe like marvel movies. Bollywood is getting sidelined and the threat to the industry is real.

[@vinay249]

True, it is slavish to deify someone. And then these celebraties will sell us mouth cancer (tobaco products), fairness creams, gambling apps, astrology apps and many more poisons but we will keep slavishly deifying them.

[@SEAZNDragon]

The paps going after the kid broke my heart. It’s clear the kid doesn’t like it and the blogger excusing it because the parents are OK with it feels disgusting.

[@ManishKumar-sr8zh]

In my opinion, such extreme media attention is harmful for a child. Parents should have objection. One solution could be to send the kids to foreign land where they can live a normal life.

[@kuttysrank5]

Hope the audience stop consuming such media.

[@harveyspecter1855]

That's half the story though. These celebrities actually pay and tip the paparazzi beforehand and inform them that they'll be at the airport at a particular time etc. Their pictures are very strategically clicked before the release of a particular film. If the film is historic, then they dress in traditional. If the film is a biography, then they dress like the person on whom the film is made upon. The child's photos were also strategically clicked. Mumbai is so massive and there are so many people in india who look like these celebrities that the only way the celebrities are spotted if they inform the paps before. When the photos are being clicked, they behave as if the paparazzi wasn't there. There are established paparazzi like viral Bhayani who has done a podcast saying that they're paid by the celebrities to click their pictures. The child's parents tipped the paps. Anyone who says that they hate the paps are also the ones who post Their locations during and after promotions to create a buzz. Don't feel sorry or disgusted fpr these people because they literally ask for it.

[@SEAZNDragon]

@@harveyspecter1855 I heard of a similar thing in the US so that wouldn't surprise me.

[@ManishKumar-sr8zh]

@@harveyspecter1855 If they are asking for it, then there is even more reason to feel sorry for them

[@almightyorcus9066]

Fun fact, the editor's sitting on our office desk get's paid more than we get 😂🤦🏻

[@Pyasa.shaitan]

Which editor?

[@Mamatha450]

@@Pyasa.shaitan The person who decides to put particular pic to the magazine......

[@anithamuthu4597]

I don't understand why so many people and the media are obsessed with actors/actresses, I am not even going to call them celebrity because i don't celebrate them at all. they are just doing their job of acting in movies that's it. It's absolutely ridiculous to see these people taking pics of them in gym, cafe and house...i just can't understand it at all.

[@Faisaluvais]

Exactly

[@shyamchaudhary734]

@@Faisaluvais that what I do bro

[@marytamut8729]

Yes they are also doing their jobs just as we do ours.

[@masterblaster2383]

Today I get to discover that photographer ( Sara ji rukiye 😆😆)... On Instagram I always hear his voice

[@chitwandhuliya]

He is so hardworking and not wearing a helmet, changing his lanes without fear, talking on phone while driving a bike and chasing celebrity without the fear of getting crushed under their car

[@ritvikasthana]

🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@sarveshbatham812]

Kuch bhi .. they are leeches

[@ManishKumar-sr8zh]

If 90% of your identity is just your public image, it is a tough life. There is only 10% left for your true self.

[@sameer734]

While Indian reporters don't want to leave their air con offices, foreign media is reporting ground level stories.

[@lantherpagdi]

aur chaat without sugar

[@InformalBackpacker]

I used to always wonder why these celebrities wear sunglasses at night... now I know its to avoid those camera flashes! 🤣🤣🤣

[@AnweR-AmmaR]

😂😂

[@sailendradewan7811]

Taking photographs of Indian celebrities is like taking photographs of wild animals..I feel for the paparazzi dude... being a wildlife enthusiast myself 😀

[@lean8342]

I feel sry for the celebrities wtf the paparazzi are doing too much come to someone house nah Hollywood is not like that .

[@zeeshaan_omar]

Viral Bhayani sitting and laughing in his office right now.

[@piyushvia]

This is one of the finest documentary ive ever seen , i used too judge those photographers for invading the private life of these superstar but at the end it is necessary for their survival

[@meherbansarkar]

This documentary has depicted the ups and downs,the struggle to survive of Indian paparazzis very closely and sympathetically.. we can hardly feel their tiresome work..really touching.. 😢😢😢 (29/10/2022;9.10 pm)

[@curiouslycurious10]

This is harassment, what's so sympathetic about it. Look at the stars they do not want to be clicked, as simple as that!

[@harshdhanak2415]

wish people invested this kind effort in somethin more rewarding and added more benefit towards society

[@muneebqazi3474]

Outstanding documentry! I love Al Jazeera's quality journalism.

[@abhi_jeet3483]

lol 😂

[@raajajagan]

@@abhi_jeet3483 then who will report such documentary ? Will godi media make such reality video ?

[@mohammedaghadi6476]

@@abhi_jeet3483 just average Indian

[@saurabhswarnakar6829]

@@mohammedaghadi6476 Jst an Average Madarsachap 😊

[@mohammedaghadi6476]

@@saurabhswarnakar6829 lolllll

[@Flourishingvision]

😂😂 so called Bollywood King 👑

[@AnirudhPsychPixel]

Whatever bollywood might be, but this mini documentary was excellent.

[@adityarathore2274]

This level of obsession with celebrities is just nonsense. Seems like the people who long for these celebrity photos have nothing else to do.

[@vyaadhakengineering2762]

One of the best documentaries! Also tells the dark side of being famous.

[@Pyasa.shaitan]

They are Multi millionaires. They have more money than you’ll make in 4 life times.

[@vyaadhakengineering2762]

@@Pyasa.shaitan We'll see!

[@Pyasa.shaitan]

@@vyaadhakengineering2762 what do you mean? 😂 you actually believe you’ll become that rich? 😂🔪

[@aljazeeraenglish]

Thanks for watching, dear Vyaadhak.

[@vyaadhakengineering2762]

@@aljazeeraenglish As I have your attention now, can you make such videos of criticism on few topics happening in muslim countries? Which you ask? I don't know, maybe mass execution in Afghanistan? Hijab protest in Iran? Oil cartel of Saudi? ... oops! Sorry I forgot that you are so biased towards few who tolerate you. True journalism guys... keep it up!🤗

[@7755sAc]

Celebrities don't know what the actual celebrity is. Paparazzis don't know what the actual paparazzis is.

[@thomasjefferson4065]

News about celebrities is useless. News about public issues and climate change is very useful.

[@RahulSingh-gh1dm]

It feels ludicrous, I feel good as I stopped watching Bollywood completely since last 2 years.

[@sleepysam2015]

Everyone is working hard to make ends' meet, except some.

[@Sangharshayadava]

You guys make very good documentaries and go deep down and show the bright and dark sides of it thank you Aljazeera

[@VinodKumarPhoto]

just amazing coverage of this topic ..great stuff to know behind the scenes

[@Khnvlogs]

This story has got the real meaning of hardwork and success, great work.

[@addictedtometal1]

This is a great example of an excellent documentary. Extremely well done!

[@BannyCeeTV]

This is for that one person out there going through an incredibly tough moment right now and such that everyone around has given up on your dreams. Keep pushing, you'll make it through, the storm is almost over ☺️😉🌻

[@adidutta5863]

Al Jazeera said good things about bollywood and you wonder why Indians are boycotting bollywood 😂😂

[@antojose6902]

If any indian see you they will kill you Moran

[@charanreddy8449]

its the other way around

[@No-om5qn]

Nope indians only who use to eat cow dunk and urain 🤣🤣

[@vickyyadav5723]

@@No-om5qn yes ur comment show ur level of literacy😂

[@Tsug2803]

@@No-om5qn you can even spell urine, before insulting others get your English right at-least madraaschap

[@workhardt2]

Great coverage by Al Jazeera. U always see these close up pictures of Indian film stars on the internet and magazines and i have always known that the Indian paparazzi has been large. Nice of Al Jazeera to do a feature presentation on their lives ! 💝

[@aljazeeraenglish]

Many thanks for your comment! 🙋

[@shortstoriesai5275]

It was such an important documentary to put some light on the ones who gives their everything.

[@ryana8232]

Outstanding Al Jazeera huge respect for showing the reality to the world these illiterate celebrities deserve no attention for me the real hero was Atish working so hard to make a living …outstanding work will try to write a brilliant script and make amazing movie currently in New York 🎉

[@aljazeeraenglish]

Many thanks for your comment, dear Ryan. We appreciate it. 🙌

[@nayeemrashid6089]

Really those man are really superb. Thanks Al Jazeera also.

[@lhamo5796]

outstanding!! I learnt so much. I wish them good luck with their life

[@sabihatanveer8494]

A beautifully crafted documentary, aj 👍

[@aljazeeraenglish]

Glad you liked our documentary, dear Sabiha. Many thanks for watching.

[@ilovemywife1504]

Imagine after high school, you college,spent time and money, after graduation your parent and siblings are so proud of you for your new job for chasing 24/7 some like you taking a picture😮

[@SachiraBhanu]

Great documentary about unknown side of india.

[@Manish_Kumar_Singh]

Unknown side of Mumbai, just a City in India

[@anshumanelectricboy8597]

@@Manish_Kumar_Singh iiiiiiiiiiíiiiii8ii8iiii8iiiiiiii88ii8

[@anshumanelectricboy8597]

@@Manish_Kumar_Singh iii

[@anshumanelectricboy8597]

@@Manish_Kumar_Singh í

[@anshumanelectricboy8597]

@@Manish_Kumar_Singh iii

[@TusharDeb]

This was great, and very insightful! Makes you feel at least a little respectful towards the tough jobs of the paparazzi, considering how much straight up hate they receive.

[@tushar8623]

they absolutely deserve the hate. celebrity worship is so problematic. These morons have no life and hounding kids, climbing over compounds, invading privacy, I can go on. worthless people.

[@aljazeeraenglish]

Glad you enjoyed the documentary, dear Tushar. Many thanks for your comment. 🙌

[@faithfultoyeshua4576]

The struggle is real

[@Thekyurawcity]

Raveena, Saif and Kareena were comfortable when they were being clicked but Pulkit and I don't know how many like him don't understand the helplessness of the one's who click their picture by following them.

[@abada4588]

Well the situation of pulkit was different. He was in the process of getting a divorce. He's in a vulnerable position where he's angry stressed sad etc etc there's so much going on. Can you imagine people interfering into your private lives and taking shots of you while you are going through such problems in your life. Would u love it.

[@bibimbap9199]

@@abada4588 they r media person..taking picture is their job...but this so called celeb pulkit raising hand to media person is so wrong...it is not justifiable....

[@azharulalam9192]

This is really scary when u r in car & 10 bikes following u. No wonder sometimes celebrities get angry on paps!

[@Sanatani_adiyogi]

man just look , these guys are sitting with Mac book pro laptops these things need good technical / editing skills

[@ghoomantu52]

Photography was considered an art form. But nowdays any random guy with camera or phone is considered photographer. There has been no respect for photographer left now. Very few of them are given weightage .

[@adaoramadike3543]

Al Jazeera always have the best documentaries. This is quite eye opening.

[@aljazeeraenglish]

Many thanks for watching, dear Adaora. 🙌

[@billsfriend7273]

Yeh Sala Hindustan me jab tak Cinema hai log Chutiya bante rahenge ~ Sir Tigmanshu Dhulia.

[@Lablabu28]

Crossing line of privacy without their consent is not a job. It is harrassment.Having no other option is not an excuse

[@Bhaiyaa_ji]

Ye To Har Indain Ke Saath Bachpan Se Hi Hota Rehta Hai 😢

[@priyankatalreja8521]

The love this.If paparrazi disappear these so called celeberties would go mad.

[@NewTexasHomes]

We all consume their footage and pics, I don't understand people defending millionaire celebrities and attacking poor camera men?

[@pjk814]

Indian's obsession with Bollywood and Cricket celebrities is on another level. Instead of engaging in various activities and living meaningful lives, many are glued to screens and idolize celebrities. Moreover, there's a growing trend where Indians are becoming increasingly obsessed with vloggers and foreigners. You can see a white person reacting to a Bollywood movie trailer, and the views will reach into the millions. It's rather disheartening 🤐

[@bumblebee2956]

It’s a symbiotic relationship….sometimes very brutal

[@capsonfernandes4803]

The later guy who was attacked by Pulkit shouldn't think of it has the guy spends more in a day then my entire salary that I get in a month. MONEY DOESN'T DECIDE YOUR WORTH MY FRIEND OR YOUR SELF ESTEEM, EVEN HE IS GONNA GO BACK TO WERE HE CAME FROM (i.e., NOTHING) AND EVEN YOU.

[@shabbirocks123]

If Al Jazeera would have covered how this Instagram & other website monetize through this picture, this struggling camera man would have a scope & better future.

[@ibogeyman]

Such a good documentary

[@aljazeeraenglish]

Thanks! 🙌

[@saadiadinia2615]

Thank you so much ! I will never look at paparazzis the same way again !

[@rubelroyale3436]

Having cameras placed at various different angles just to record every little movement and activity of the celebrity cannot fall under the premises of paparazzi but rather spying. It’s almost very creepy that the paps know exactly which celebrity will be spotted where, with whom and at what time of the day, doing what. It’s not called papping the celebs, it’s called stalking them. We the audience and the celebrities definitely do need the paparazzi, but it is important to realize the fine line between what is acceptable and unacceptable and what amounts to a violation of someone’s privacy. There were days when celebrity stars were actually seeing as mystery as stars & hugely adored for such auras but the current paparazzi culture has faded out the shines of stars with their flashes

[@adaoramadike3543]

I think it’s the stars that have invited the paparazzi too much into their lives. They tip off these paparazzi to meet them when they are out.

[@clover3569]

last scenes were just great

[@gamingsuperman4875]

Hard working people god bless you guys,

[@riteshpawde4155]

So called KING of Bollywood 😁😁😁😁

[@freesoul107]

amazing documentary

[@aljazeeraenglish]

Thanks for watching. 🧡

[@yeshilhamo4193]

Hats off to their hard work

[@See-e]

One of Best document so far from aljazira team. 👏❤️

[@aljazeeraenglish]

Thanks for your positive feedback. We appreciate it. 🙌

[@lailashoukat714]

The fact that these photographers report that they don't have choice in clicking private pics of these celebrities suggest that if we choose to ignore their private moments, and focus on their work and talk abt that may be paps would not have to be pressurized in clicking them, it's the audience's responsibility

[@littlesifaat6297]

Thankyou AljaZeera U change my perspective to see paparazzi

[@LilyTheCuteLabra]

Finally Al Jazeera is showing something true for the first time..🙏

[@aamirbhat4754]

They should not be given such fame ...i think our heroes are IAS officers ,army officers ,and more importantly our each and every person surrounding you

[@sandes7624]

Nice documentary..

[@starrynights7929]

Only media channels are obsessed with Alia Ranbir wedding, rest of the country does not care.

[@bunny_kapoor]

There wedding post is most liked Indian post on Instagram

[@starrynights7929]

@@bunny_kapoor bots

[@AbhishekKumar015]

Last line are heart breaking

[@ea7000]

I pray that these people find a new better job

[@sohail.645]

"Himanshu Himanshu..." 😂😂😂 Like he was his "langotya yar".

[@sazfactory4670]

Such a beautiful country like india with its fantastic people are being emotionally and menatally disturbed by the flasy news nd views of its own film industry.

[@ViralZayn6]

All the paps work's more than 16 hours a day...12 minimum...i know each of them.. finally I quit working for a channel and started my own KZbin channel..i will inform everyone that their video is posted here paps like Shreyas and others.. thankyou for giving attention to them who work so hard yet get paid so little

[@TheDYB]

Very interesting. Great Documentry to Understand

[@aljazeeraenglish]

Thanks for watching. 🙌

[@HAAHMAD-uh2ih]

Good work for sharing the other side

[@TheBongConnection1410]

Go Pro mounted on the DSLR was a cool angle to shoot. TS:2.45

[@morjagdalpur6395]

really good work.

[@knights3247]

This was so amazing, we are always curious to know wat goes behind paparazzi how do they know which actor is where but if u see it’s vice verca even the Celebs want paparazzi around great documentary Aljazeera

[@aljazeeraenglish]

Thanks for watching. 🧡

[@RiSo1988]

I was genuinely scared for him while he was riding the bike without helmet, esp when he was chasing the white car

[@anamikatiwari8976]

It is not about indian peoples wants everything too be captured but it's the media houses way of income

[@lain39x]

awsome documentry.

[@ytsou]

Loved the docu

[@shabnamalwani3603]

They work really hard.. thanks for bringing their this side aswell 👍hatsoff.

[@farahferdous2336]

the entry of shahrukh 👌👌 reel or real always awesome

[@sneha8732]

It's very good of you to make a documentary about them. It shows how much hard work they do every day 24×7 just to get a picture! This also proves how much employment Bollywood gives to millions of people. From cast and crew to photographers, paps , theatre owners, distributors, media houses, publications, security, third class/ fourth class people,food chains.. everyone gets employed in some or the other way. And few people so easily defame Bollywood and runs boycott or silly things or should I say lies against them, without even thinking millions of families get money and food because of this one industry. So before you abuse a movie even without watching it, think about these millions of families who are connected to it!😒

[@abcdef-bz7ew]

Dont be stupid pls.

[@prashantbhilare1870]

Well scripted. Well directed. Perhaps would've loved to see a bit more about these paparazzis' personal life, their families friends and so on..

[@aljazeeraenglish]

Thanks for your comment, dear Prashant. 🙌

[@EnclosureFacadeSolutionPvtLtd]

All kudos to the docu maker....

[@prashantbisht6384]

Since Netflix and Amazon prime. People hardly watch typical bollywood masala movies as used to do.

[@investorsingh6734]

last 2 minutes are best

[@bkhu322]

Aap jaise logo ki wajha se yeh famous hai aur jo popularity mil Rahi hai jis din yeh band ho jayega inhe gali mohalle ke log bhi bhav nahin denge 🥲🥲🥲🥲🥲

[@dorayantz3649]

Oh my, even looking at those cameras is scary enough to at. 😱😱

[@sandhyaadrola3305]

You work hard and i love Tejran 👏👏

[@ShivamSingh-cu2wx]

Wow! You call paparazzi to those in Hollywood but they are called hunters if it’s in India.

[@hossainayon9588]

No they called them paparazzi too u r just being to judgemental

[@unmouscat]

U are trying to create a problem out of nothing. Paparazzi all around the world are equally hated

[@aditthiyansa5395]

thanks for the doc

[@aljazeeraenglish]

We're glad you liked it, dear Aditthiyan. 🙌

[@faheemography]

OMG, this is scary and suffocating.

[@anamikatiwari8976]

Great respect too paparazzi

[@md.nymoomhossainsakib2943]

Excellent topic.

[@aljazeeraenglish]

Many thanks, dear Md. We're glad you enjoyed the film. 🙌

[@aemeromedia]

cool information! 💪

[@aasheeshleve]

Very Nice Documentary. and Real hard work

[@aljazeeraenglish]

Many thanks for your comment, dear Ashish. 🙌