Filmmaker Ashoke Pandit criticised veteran actress and politician Jaya Bachchan for pushing a man who approached her for a selfie outside the Constitution Club in Delhi on Tuesday (August 12). The incident, which was captured on video, has since gone viral on social media, sparking a debate over her behaviour in public spaces.
Taking to Instagram, Pandit called the act "highly condemnable" and accused the Samajwadi Party MP of showing disregard for the public.
Ashoke Pandit criticises Jaya Bachchan
"Jaya Bachhan ji pushing a common man just because he was trying to click a selfie is a highly condemnable act and humiliation towards people who have elected her to serve them," he wrote in his Instagram story.
Angry Jaya Bachchan Pushes Man Who Came Close To Her For Selfie In Delhi, Screams 'Kya Kar Rahe Hai Aap'; Video Goes ViralThe filmmaker further said that public figures, especially elected representatives, should display humility and empathy towards those who admire them. "A public servant can't afford to be sulking and irritated 24 x 7. One expects humility & compassion from an artist of her calibre who has been loved by her fans that are responsible to provide her this stature and position," Pandit added.
In the widely circulated clips, Bachchan appears visibly irked when the man moves closer to her for a selfie. She can be heard saying, "Kya kar rahe hai aap? What is this?" The man, seemingly embarrassed, is heard apologising in response.
The incidents has divided opinion on social media platforms, with a section of users criticising Bachchan's reaction as "extreme," while others defended her right to personal space.
Kangana Ranaut slams Jaya Bachchan
Actress-turned-politician Kangana Ranaut also slammed the veteran actress and called her a "spoilt" and "privileged woman."
"Most spoilt and privileged woman. People put up with her tantrums / non sense just because she is @amitabhbachchan ji's wife. That samajwadi topi looks like a rooster comb, while she looks like a fighting cock!! Shame. Such disgrace and shame (sic)," Kangana wrote on her Instagram story.
When Jaya Bachchan said she doesn't like being photographed
Bachchan, known for her candid and often blunt interactions with the media, has had similar run-ins in the past.
She has openly expressed her dislike for the paparazzi culture, stating in interviews that she prefers to be photographed only when attending official events or film-related engagements. Her past confrontations with photographers and reporters have frequently made headlines.
Meanwhile, on the professional front, the veteran star was last seen in Karan Johar's Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani, which released in 2023.
She is next slated to appear in Dil Ka Darwaaza Khol Na Darling, co-starring Siddhant Chaturvedi and Wamiqa Gabbi. Although the makers had earlier announced a 2025 release, no further updates have been shared about the project.
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