I don’t step out without kajal and lip gloss: Rasha Thadani on paparazzi culture

Rasha Thadani, who is all set to make her Bollywood debut with Abhishek Kapoor’s Azaad, opens up about paparazzi culture and the pressure of always being papped. The actor, in an exclusive interview with India Today Digital, spoke about her first encounter with photographers.

Rasha, daughter of Raveena Tandon, recalled her first encounter with the paparazzi, which was anything but typical. She shared, “I had gone to the salon to wash my hair, and the paparazzi mistook me for my mother because our car has the same number. It turned out to be me, though!”

Since that day, stepping out in public has meant being under constant media scrutiny. “Getting papped has become a regular part of my life,” she admitted. But now, she’s learnt to embrace attention.

“I’m always prepared. I don’t step out of my house without my kajal and lip gloss. If I’m not wearing makeup, I make sure to put on my sunglasses,” she said.

The actor also shared how the pressure of being constantly in the public eye initially affected her.

“After I finished the shoot of this film, the papping increased. I was really scared of them at first. I would get anxious, thinking, ‘What if this picture comes out and I look like this?’ or ‘What if I’m doing something weird?’ Trust me, there have been so many videos where I’ve thought, ‘Oh my God, why do I look like this or do that?'” said Rasha.

But over time, she understood the paparazzi and their role in the entertainment world. “Now, I have this friendly equation with them. I see them as people, not just cameras. It’s become easier to connect, and I’m no longer as intimidated by the lens.”

Rasha is making her debut with Aaman Devgan. Azaad is set to release in theatres on January 17.