Celebrity photographer and veteran paparazzo Ramakant Munde has opened up about the unwritten rules that existed in Bollywood long before the age of social media. Recalling one of the most talked about relationships in the industry, Munde revealed that photographers were often told not to click pictures. Sunny Deol and Dimple Kapadia togetherIn an interview with Hindi Rush, Mund talked about how celebrity photography worked in the pre-paparazzi era and how some stars preferred to keep their personal lives away from the public eye.
“We knew he wasn’t taking pictures of them together”
Talking about Sunny Deol and Dimple Kapadia, Munde said that it was common knowledge among photographers that the two did not want to be photographed together.“Sometimes they were together on a movie set, at an event or at an event. But they didn’t like to be photographed together. Everyone in the media knew that,” he said.According to Munde, photographers often received advance instructions when the two stars were in the same location.“There was a message among the photographers that if we were together, we shouldn’t take photos. Usually someone from their group would come and tell us, or a sign indicating that no photos were wanted,” he recalled.
“The request for such photos was not today”
Munde explains that unlike today’s paparazzi culture, candid photos of celebrities’ personal lives were not considered very valuable at the time.“There was no such demand. What sold in those days were beautiful photos: good clothes, jewelry, make-up and glamorous looks. Publishers preferred aesthetically pleasing images,” he said.The veteran photographer noted that the media landscape has changed significantly over the years.“Today, people are interested in every aspect of a celebrity’s personal life. But back then, pictures of who they were dating didn’t carry the same value,” he added.
Actors used to be the biggest attraction for photographers
Munde also reflected on how actors often generated more excitement among photographers than actors because of the elaborate style associated with film appearances.“The heroes looked quite normal, but the heroes had beautiful costumes, make-up and styling. Their photos were in high demand,” he said.The photographer recalled receiving calls from producers and publicists, among others, informing them that they were major stars Madhuri DixitShilpa Shetty, Manisha Koirala or Sridevi were being shot.“If we had said that Madhuri Dixit, Manisha Koirala or Sridevi were on the set, we would have reached at least half an hour to an hour earlier because there was a huge demand for their pictures,” he said.
