In a surprising disclosure on Reddit, Bollywood photographer Varinder Chawla revealed that beggars in Mumbai often provide paparazzi with tips about celebrity sightings. When questioned about how they gather information when celebrities don’t tip them off directly, Chawla explained that they follow cars and receive tips from waiters at high-end hotels and restaurants. He added that many beggars in Mumbai even have the contact numbers of his staff.
This revelation led to mixed reactions from Reddit users. Some responded with humor, suggesting that celebrities could avoid detection by wearing caps, while others questioned the legality and ethics of paparazzi tactics. Concerns were raised over whether such surveillance could be classified as stalking or criminal voyeurism, with one user asking if any laws regulate these practices.
The discussion also shifted to the role of celebrity public relations teams, with some speculating whether the term “beggars” was a metaphor for PR agencies rather than literal beggars.
Chawla, a veteran paparazzo, recently hosted an “Ask Me Anything” session on the BollyBlindsGossip subreddit, which focuses on Bollywood gossip. In the past, he has acknowledged the intrusive nature of paparazzi coverage, particularly mentioning the intense focus on Taimur Khan, son of Kareena Kapoor Khan and Saif Ali Khan.
He described how the demand for Taimur’s photos led to near-constant surveillance, prompting the family to request privacy around sensitive areas such as his school and tuition classes. Chawla admitted that the paparazzi were disturbing the child’s personal life and that the family had to intervene to limit such coverage.
Beyond discussing celebrity locations, Chawla also shared his opinions on various celebrities. He cited Jaya Bachchan and Taapsee Pannu as his least favorite celebrities while naming Ranveer Singh, Ranbir Kapoor, Deepika Padukone, and Kareena Kapoor as his all-time favorites.
