Filmmaker Ashok Pandit on Monday criticized Jaya Bachchan’s recent comments about paparazzi. In a strongly worded note shared on social media, Pandit slammed the way Bachchan described the paps while stalking celebrities, calling them “people who wear tight, dirty drain-pipe pants”.

Describing Bachchan’s statement as both classist and elitist, he said, “Jaya Bachchan ji’s statement smacks of arrogant elitism. It is one thing to criticize the aggressive coverage of certain people, but to completely insult the profession with an absolutely classic comment is unbecoming of such a senior member of our film industry and an MP.”

Pandit further said that Bachchan was free to criticize the behavior of some individuals, but his comments insulted the entire community of hardworking professionals.

He said, “They are hard-working professionals doing their job, for which most of the times they are called out by the stars themselves and their PR teams. So if they have such strong opinions against the paparazzi culture, then it is time to look within themselves instead of getting involved in this misplaced outrage.”

In my interview with Mojo StoryBachchan said, “My relationship with the media is fantastic. I am a product of the media, but my relationship with the paparazzi is zero. Who are these people? Are they trained to represent the people of this country? You call them media?”

Considering she was raised by a journalist father, she continued to Expressed displeasure with paparazziBachchan said, “I come from the media, My father was a journalist, I have a lot of respect for such people, But these people who wear tight, dirty drain-pipe pants and have a mobile phone in their hand, do they think they have a mobile phone in their hand so that they can take your picture?”

He also questioned the Pope’s behavior, background and standards. He concluded, “The kind of comments they make, what kind of people are they? Where do these people come from? What kind of education do they have? What is their background? Will they represent us? Just because they can reach through YouTube or any social media.”

Bachchan has long had a strained relationship with the paparazzi. He has often been seen berating them, refusing to be photographed, or scolding them for standing too close or even calling their names, requesting a photograph at a public event.