Bollywood's complex relationship with the paparazzi

Image source, Getty Images

Varinder Chawla looked forward to s at a helipad in Alibaug, a coastal city about 96 km (60 miles) from India's financial capital, the city of Mumbai.

Thanks from his sources, he had learned that Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan could take a helicopter from there to his lavish mansion in Mumbai.

It was November 2, 2022, Khan's birthday. The star has always greeted the thousands of fans who gathered outside his home to wish him luck that day. Chawla was sure Khan wouldn't disappoint them, so he waited patiently.

Finally, a car approached with Khan inside. Chawla waved at the actor and he waved back; so he pressed the button. Click.

"It was a real money grab. My efforts paid off," says Chawla.

He's part of the growing generation of Bollywood paparazzi who do all sorts of things to photograph celebrities in candid moments: follow them on bikes, befriend their managers and drivers to get intel on their whereabouts, hang out at airports and restaurants, and even memorize stars' vehicle license plates to track them.

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