Sapthami Gowda’s Paparazzi Stand Ignites Support From Rukmini Vasanth & Divya Spandana
March 4, 2026 — Bengaluru/New Delhi — A growing conversation about media behaviour in Indian cinema intensified this week after Sapthami Gowda, best known for her breakout role in Kantara, publicly criticised certain paparazzi practices she and fellow actresses describe as invasive and inappropriate. The remarks have since been amplified by colleagues including Rukmini Vasanth and Divya Spandana, who echoed her appeal for professionalism and respect in media coverage.
Gowda’s message, shared on her Instagram Stories earlier this week, struck a chord across the South Indian film community. She expressed growing frustration over repeated instances of photographers and videographers capturing female actors at public events from what she called “inappropriate angles,” often focusing on their bodies rather than their craft.
Speaking Out Against Objectification
In her nearly-universal statement, Gowda said that footage and images shot from excessive zoom-ins and poorly chosen angles tend to narrow attention toward looks rather than artistic achievements — a practice she described as “disrespectful and unacceptable.” The actress emphasised that female performers are present at events for their work and urged media professionals to maintain basic standards of dignity and courtesy.
“We are here for our craft. We are here for our cinema,” Gowda wrote, adding that such behaviour should neither be “normalized nor tolerated.” She underscored that violating personal boundaries under the guise of coverage is a violation of respect and called for solidarity in demanding change.
Industry Support and Collective Voice
Following Gowda’s candid remarks, other prominent figures in the Kannada film industry stepped forward to reinforce the message. Rukmini Vasanth and Divya Spandana both reposted Gowda’s statement on their social media accounts, illustrating a unified stance among actresses against the invasive behaviour.
Their posts reiterated the need for restraint and professionalism from photographers and videographers, echoing Gowda’s criticism of “unnecessary zooms” and intrusive camera angles. Some industry peers have also shared similar stories, pointing to an ongoing pattern of objectification that performers find deeply troubling.
Broader Context and Questions of Respect
While paparazzi culture has long been part of celebrity life, critics argue that changing norms around consent and digital exposure require updated standards of conduct. The controversy highlights a broader tension in entertainment journalism between capturing attention and preserving personal dignity, particularly for women in the spotlight.
Actors including Janhvi Kapoor and Mrunal Thakur have previously spoken about how certain angles and images can make them uncomfortable, indicating that Gowda’s complaint resonates beyond the Kannada film sector.
What Comes Next
As the debate unfolds on social platforms and within entertainment circles, many are calling for more constructive engagement between media professionals and artists. Advocates suggest that photographers and event organisers adopt clearer guidelines that respect personal boundaries while still fulfilling their role in documenting public appearances.
The unified response from Gowda, Vasanth and Spandana marks one of the more prominent collective calls for change this year — one that could influence how actors and the media navigate public interactions going forward.
