Swastika Mukherjee has come out in support of Taapsee Pannu’s decision to push back when paparazzi photographers or mobile cameras get too close, saying celebrities should not be expected to accept being photographed every moment simply because they work in the public eye.
Taapsee Pannu has developed a reputation for being direct when dealing with paparazzi, and her blunt interactions with photographers have occasionally triggered criticism online.
But actor Swastika Mukherjee, who worked with Taapsee on Netflix’s Gandhari, believes that the actor’s reaction is understandable.
In an interview with NDTV, Swastika spoke candidly about the way paparazzi culture has evolved and said there are situations where an actor is justified in telling photographers to back off.
Swastika Mukherjee says Taapsee is right to push back
Discussing videos she has seen of Taapsee interacting with photographers, Swastika said she understood why the actor sometimes snaps when cameras or phones are pushed into her personal space.
“When she doesn’t like people shoving their mobile phones at her, she snaps back—rightly so. It needs to be done, given where this paparazzi culture has gone,” she said.
Swastika added that she has experienced similar situations herself in Kolkata.
For actors working long and demanding schedules, being photographed immediately upon reaching a set can be particularly uncomfortable.
She explained that she has sometimes arrived at work early in the morning after a hectic schedule, only to find photographers already waiting outside.
“I’ve reached the set at 7 AM and I don’t want to be photographed then. My eyes are swollen, I look groggy, and yet people are already standing with their phones,” she said.
In those situations, Swastika said she prefers not to get out of the car and instead asks a member of her team to move the photographers away.
Her point was straightforward: being part of the entertainment industry does not mean consenting to photography at every hour of the day.
“Just because I belong to a certain fraternity doesn’t mean I’m ready to be photographed 24/7,” she said.
Swastika describes Taapsee as “chill”
Swastika’s defence of Taapsee was also informed by her own experience of working alongside her.
Describing Taapsee’s personality, she called the actor “really chill” and said she did not appear to carry the stereotypical trappings often associated with Bollywood stardom.
According to Swastika, Taapsee does not typically arrive on set surrounded by an unusually large entourage.
She contrasted this with the elaborate teams that can sometimes accompany actors to shoots, joking about the number of people involved in hair and styling.
Swastika said she has never understood the need for multiple people to attend to one person’s hair.
The comments were clearly made in a light-hearted manner, but they also reflected her appreciation for a less elaborate approach to working on a film set.
Taapsee’s approach to the film set impressed her
Swastika also praised Taapsee for being present on set rather than spending excessive time inside her vanity van.
She said she has never seen Taapsee being the last person called from the vanity or routinely arriving on set only when she is required for a scene.
For Swastika, being physically present on set is one of the most rewarding aspects of acting.
She explained that actors can absorb the atmosphere, interact with assistant directors and co-stars and become part of the larger rhythm of a production even when they are not immediately required in front of the camera.
She recalled seeing Taapsee sitting in the tent during their shoot days.
The two also ate together with members of the wider team and spoke about subjects ranging from family and holidays to the film and their characters.
A first meeting that left an impression
Swastika also recalled meeting Taapsee for the first time during her look test at the Katha Pictures office.
The two actors were on different floors, and Swastika said there was no obvious reason for Taapsee to come down specifically to meet her.
But she did.
According to Swastika, Taapsee introduced herself and complimented her work.
She recalled Taapsee saying:
“Hello, Swastika, I’ve followed your work. I really love what you do. I love the way you portray your characters.”
For Swastika, the gesture stood out because Taapsee was already an established actor and did not need to make that effort.
She had expected that she might meet Taapsee after completing her own work, but instead Taapsee came down to meet her.
Swastika said the interaction left her pleasantly surprised.
‘She’s very polite, respectful towards everyone’
Despite the public perception created by viral paparazzi clips, Swastika described Taapsee very differently based on her professional interactions with her.
“She’s very polite, respectful towards everyone,” she said.
She also suggested that Taapsee’s willingness to interact with other members of a production team is genuine rather than performative.
Swastika recalled appreciating the fact that Taapsee would spend time around the wider crew and engage with people on set.
For her, that behaviour offered a more complete picture of an actor than short paparazzi videos circulating on social media.
Taapsee Pannu and the paparazzi debate
Taapsee’s relationship with paparazzi has periodically generated debate.
Short clips of celebrities refusing to pose, asking photographers to maintain distance or expressing frustration can quickly circulate online, often without the circumstances leading up to the interaction.
That can make a few seconds of footage appear to define a person’s personality.
Swastika’s comments offer another perspective: celebrities may be comfortable with public attention in some circumstances while still wanting boundaries at other times.
There is also a practical difference between attending a premiere or promotional event, where photography is expected, and arriving at a film set early in the morning after a demanding schedule.
The expectation of constant accessibility can blur that distinction.
Swastika and Taapsee worked together on Gandhari
The two actors recently worked together on Netflix’s Gandhari.
Their experience on the project appears to have given Swastika an opportunity to see Taapsee away from the brief interactions that tend to dominate celebrity coverage online.
Her account presents an actor who is comfortable working alongside the broader crew, spends time on set and maintains a relatively grounded approach to professional life.
It also explains why Swastika was willing to defend Taapsee’s more controversial paparazzi moments.
From her perspective, the short clips circulating online do not necessarily reflect the person she encountered while working.
The larger question about celebrity boundaries
Swastika’s comments ultimately raise a broader question about the relationship between public figures and paparazzi.
Actors choose careers that place them in the public eye, but that does not automatically mean every moment becomes public property.
There is a difference between being photographed at an event where an actor has willingly appeared for publicity and being pursued with cameras or phones when they are simply arriving for work.
For Swastika, respecting that distinction is important.
And when Taapsee Pannu pushes back against unwanted attention, she believes the actor should not automatically be labelled rude for doing so.
Sometimes, she argues, saying no is simply a boundary—and one that deserves to be respected.
