Sneaking into the private lives of celebrities is de riguer in the western countries. Exposing Bollywood secrets is gaining momentum here and paparazzi journalism seems to have found its illegitimate place. Filming celebs in compromising and awkward positions. The competition of 24/7 news channels keeps them hounding the stars and sometimes even look-alikes are used to circulate and tarnish the image of established stars like the case of Mallika Sherawat and Riya Sen. Recently, Smriti Irani's miscarriage was used as a full blown article while it's a highly personal issue.

Hidden or candid cameras and mobile phone cameras have become the bane of celebrities and boon of the wannabes who stand to benefit by this culture. For them it's a passport to the hall of fame and recognition, albeit five-minutes.

Have the publicity-hungry stars brought it upon themselves by letting them be photographed? Gita Hari asks some people from tellywood for their opinions.

RAHIL AZAM : "I am a private person and I don't like my personal life to be spread on the papers. To some extent the papparazi cult has caught up with us but not to the extent it is abroad." When Rahil's grandmother passed away, he was hounded by the media for bytes, but he refused saying it was too personal to be written about and the media respected that.

APARNA TILAK : I think it is a double-edged sword since in the initial stages wannabe actors hound the media and then after they become famous, the paparazzi hounds them. Both need each other, so neither should complain." But there are certain times when even the most celebrated person should be left alone, for instance something very personal, but unfortunately it doesn't work that way and for the media that makes interesting cover page stories.

ACHINT KAUR : I can't measure the role of papparazi. It has come a long way and will get uglier. The stars allowing themselves to be photographed does not give the media the liberty to enter into their bedrooms. No star wants unnecessary attention, only that which is due to their profession.

CHETAN HANSRAJ : It's still not as crazy as abroad, but they are getting there. Sometimes, just to fill up half the page, they go to any length. Print media is still ok but the tv channels are ridiculous. There are cases of some odd journos trying to blow things out of proportion it.

SHRADDHA NIGAM : Recently her mother was hospitalized but the actor did not want any write-ups to appear as she felt it was personal and yes, her wishes were respected. "The media in India respects the celebrities' privacy. And a lot depends on how you conduct yourself for the media to respect you."