The REAL Face of Bollywood A-listers
BY MASALA.COM REPORTER Sunday, 28 September 2014
It is a tempestuous relationship - a constant love-hate battle. The twists and turns in this bond can make even the most volatile love stories of T'town couples seem tame. We are talking about the very difficult yet interesting connection between a film star and the paparazzi. What your see, dear Readers, on the glossy pages of Masala! are the perfect pictures of smiling, pouting, warm and funny stars. But the people who bring those images to you, bridging the gap between the fan and the star are the ones who see the real picture of the screen gods and goddesses - some of which are far from pretty! Ever wondered what Ash is like behind that gorgeous smile? Is Salman seriously as difficult as he comes across to be? How does SRK remain so energetic 24/7? We have the answers - straight from someone who gets up, close and very personal with them. Celebrity photographer Viral Bhayani gives the lowdown on the good, bad and not-so-good side of some of the biggest names of showbiz!
ABOUT VIRAL BHAYANI
Armed with a charming smile and a camera, Viral and his team are on the perennial trail of Bollywood stars. For the last 10 years, Viral has been covering the most happening events and snapping the biggest celebrities. But his job is tough, to say the least. On an average, a pap has to cover 20 to30 events a day and at times 8 to10 shows in Mumbai itself. "Despite our best plans, events get very chaotic. Bollywood stars rarely come on time and our entire schedule goes haywire and that's when it leads to clashes and flared tempers," he says. "Each day is unpredictable!" Being one of the foremost Bollywood photographers Viral has a special relationship with the stars. But he is as grounded and real as it gets. "The equation between stars and paps is simple. They will woo you when they want you. Nobody is your friend here, everything is very professional. If you are part of a big organisation they will call you baby' and honey' and pursue you. But when you are on your own, they won't even bother to call you. I don't take stars' compliments too seriously," he says. "But some of them are genuinely nice." The Bollywood veteran unveils the masks and busts some myths about some of our hottest stars! Read on...
The Bachchans apparently don't like chatting much and dislike you if you're too casual in your approach
AISHWARYA RAI BACHCHAN
"I have heard that Ash has lost opportunities because of her attitude"
I have never fully understood Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. She doesn't talk much and rarely expresses her real self. I have been covering Ash for nearly 10 years and she has changed a lot, especially after marriage. I feel she used to be more accessible and warmer before she became Mrs Bachchan. I share a good rapport with her but can't help but notice the big difference in her attitude.
Her mother though, is still quite friendly with me.
I remember meeting her years ago on the sets of Dil Ka Rishta, the movie she did with Arjun Rampal. I was carrying an article with me on Salman which was quite negative in its tone. Her mother was quite interested in what was written and I saw her read it intensely. I thought they may react badly but both of them were quite warm and didn't seem to have any problems with the article.
Ash is extremely professional and very well-mannered but over the years she has become distant. These days when you ask her to pose for pictures, she acts snooty. She is always surrounded by a posse of security guards and it's a challenge to get a good shot when she's around! In fact, you need to be quite formal and on your guard while covering any event concerning the Bachchans. They don't like you chatting too much or making noise or being too casual in your approach. Frankly, it's no longer fun to cover Ash who is more congenial to international photographers than to desi paps. Ash is also not an easy celebrity to sign up for events. I have heard she has lost out on opportunities because of her attitude.
It's even stranger when she is with Abhishek. For instance, Ash and Abhi always insist on posing together. That's fine but as photographers we also need solo shots. But if you request them to pose solo, they simply refuse. Ash was never like this, I don't know why she behaves like this. Abhishek is extremely moody, you never know what he will say or do. His moods depend on the phase he is going through in life. If he is happy and stress-free, he will be very warm and approachable. Otherwise, he can be very aloof. At times he is very friendly with me, he'd joke that I should lose weight and take care of my health. At other times, he is downright rude. The entire family is unpredictable! The best person to deal with in the Bachchan family is Big B. He understands how to play the media. He may pretend he doesn't care but in reality he is very concerned about his image. He knows every scribe and photographer by name, it's remarkable how he remembers it.
KATRINA KAIF
Katrina is cold'
I don't like attending Katrina Kaif's events. And she doesn't like photographers either. When we shoot our airport' images, she is among those few stars who will ensure all pics of her are deleted. So I first click her and then I am forced to delete it. You can't say no to her! She is cold.
Katrina is very image conscious, she simply doesn't loosen up unless it's an event where she has to promote her movie or a product. I feel she almost gets nervous when we try and take candid shots. She has such a lovely face that she looks gorgeous even without make-up so why does she act so pricey? Katrina is not exactly rude but the kind of expression she gives when you ask her for a picture is enough to put you off. Whenever you approach her, she'd have Not now, later' response. In my opinion that's bad for a star!
After the Ibiza incident (where Kat was clicked with Ranbir on the beach), she has become all the more wary of paps. Maybe she considers it to be a huge invasion of her privacy. Whatever be the case, she doesn't make for an interesting subject.
PRIYANKA CHOPRA
Priyanka is perfect and a delight to work with'
Priyanka is my favourite! She's very friendly and media-savvy. You should see her flirting with the photographers and the camera! No wonder the cameras love her. She is so well prepared that she looks perfect each time she steps out.
She is also extremely accommodating and doesn't have any attitude problems. When a star respects a photographer, the results are always good. PC looks great, poses well and understands her fashion. Not many people know this but Priyanka has an amazing collection of jewellery. Her clothes are sourced from around the world. She doesn't mind posing even when she is at the airport coming from a long trip or going for one. At times, her PR team informs us about her trips. Every little detail is taken care of during her media appearances. In other words, she is perfect and a delight to work with. I often compare her to other stars. Take Tabu for instance. The Cheeni Kum actress never gives you enough time, it's as if she is in a hurry to catch a flight. Such people are no fun for us photographers.
SHAH RUKH KHAN
Shah Rukh respects people'
Shah Rukh is incredible. Nobody can match his energy or enthusiasm. He will pose for you at 5 or 6am if you approach him. Shah Rukh Khan respects people; even if you are in a crowd of 1000 people, he will make you feel special. He makes time for the paps and his fans and doesn't act starry. I also like his nonchalance and cool attitude. He trusts you to make your own judgement and doesn't interfere in your work. For instance, he may have a cigarette in his hand while posing for a picture or giving you an interview but he will expect that you won't use those images that may get him into trouble. He won't lecture you on what to do; instead he gives you your space while building a relationship of trust.
Recently I interacted with him and his son AbRam was with him. It was nearly a full day's shoot at Mehboob studios and we had a lot of fun. SRK made me feel very comfortable but requested me not to shoot AbRam. I heeded his request; why annoy stars unnecessarily? AbRam is a very cute baby, I am waiting for the day to click him and his dad. I am sure it won't be too far.
The only time when he gets angry is when someone crosses limits. I heard that some time back a photographer had stealthily shot some pictures of the Happy New Year team leading to the look of the characters being leaked. Shah Rukh was very angry with the pap, I don't think he will pose for him again. But that's understandable.
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