Ayan Mukerji Bars Paparazzi at Father Deb Mukherjee's Private Prayer Meet

Arvind Bhatnagar

When Ayan Mukerji, film director and son of veteran actor Deb Mukherjee, asked photographers to step back, the moment felt like a clash between two worlds that rarely meet on equal footing.

The request came on Tuesday, March 18, 2025, between 5:00 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. IST, inside Filmalaya Studio on Ceasar Road in the Amboli area of Andheri West, Mumbai. It was a prayer meet meant to honour Deb Mukherjee, who had died just four days earlier at the age of 83.

By personally walking up to the cluster of flash‑hungry lenses and asking for restraint, Ayan Mukerji highlighted a growing tension: the desire for family privacy versus the paparazzi’s hunger for every celebrity‑filled moment. He promised to share selected photos later, a gesture that seemed both conciliatory and firm.

Background: Deb Mukherjee’s Life and Legacy

Deb Mukherjee entered Bollywood in the early 1960s, debuting with films like Sambandh and Abhinetri. Over six decades he appeared in diverse roles, from the romantic Ek Baar Muskura Do to the gritty Kaminey (2009), which earned him renewed acclaim. The actor also belonged to the iconic Mukherjee–Sanjay family; his uncle Sashadhar Mukherjee co‑founded Filmalaya Studio in 1952, making the venue a family landmark.

Beyond the screen, Deb was a father to Sunita, who is married to Oscar‑nominated director Ashutosh Gowariker. Their union links two of Bollywood’s most respected lineages. The actor’s passing on March 14, 2025, due to age‑related health complications, prompted an outpouring of grief across the industry.

The Prayer Meet: Details and Restrictions

The event was strictly a private remembrance, featuring Hindu shlokas and a modest gathering of close relatives and friends. Ayan explained the need for limited media presence: “There will be some shlokas inside. If there are too many photographers, it will get very noisy. This is a very personal event for us.” He emphasized that the venue’s confined space didn’t allow the usual paparazzi back‑row for a full‑frame celebrity roll‑call.

He also compared the meet to the family’s annual Durga Puja—a public, festive affair that routinely draws media crowds. “It’s not like Durga Puja. It’s very different for us today,” he said, underscoring the solemn tone.

In the end, Ayan promised to circulate a curated set of images after the meeting, a compromise designed to satisfy both the press and the family’s need for discretion.

Celebrity Attendance and Reactions

The prayer meet saw a who's‑who of Bollywood: Kajol Devgn, Rani Mukerji, director Karan Johar, actress‑politician Jaya Bachchan, heartthrob Hrithik Roshan, writer Salim Khan, starlet Alia Bhatt and actor Ranbir Kapoor. Their presence turned an intimate rite into a gathering of industry heavyweights, yet the atmosphere remained subdued.

Among the attendees, actor Vicky Kaushal whispered a condolence to Ayan, while a less‑known name, Radhika Kapoor (identified in transcripts as Adita Roy Kapoor), also offered prayers. The collective mood was one of reverence rather than celebration.

Paparazzi vs Privacy: Ongoing Tension in Bollywood

The clash at the prayer meet isn’t an isolated incident. Mumbai’s entertainment corridors have long been a battleground where star families negotiate access, especially during moments of grief. Paparazzi argue that public figures forfeit a degree of privacy, while families point out that certain rites are sacred and should stay out of the spotlight.

Industry insiders note that the rise of social media amplifies the pressure. A single image from a private ceremony can go viral within minutes, influencing public perception and sometimes even market value of the involved personalities.

In Ayan’s case, his calm yet firm tone seemed to set a precedent: respect the space, and the media will receive curated visuals later. Whether this approach will be adopted widely remains to be seen.

What This Means for Future Private Events

For event planners, the lesson is clear—communicate expectations ahead of time and allocate a designated media corner if needed. For families, it underscores the importance of establishing boundaries early, perhaps even drafting a brief media protocol.

Analysts predict that Bollywood’s next generation of actors, many of whom grew up with 24/7 cameras, may opt for more controlled releases of personal moments, leveraging streaming platforms or private YouTube channels instead of traditional press coverage.

Ultimately, the prayer meet at Filmalaya Studio could become a reference point for how the industry balances reverence with the relentless appetite of the lens.

Key Facts

• Date & Time: March 18, 2025, 5:00 p.m.–7:00 p.m. IST
• Location: Filmalaya Studio, Andheri West, Mumbai
• Purpose: Prayer meet honoring late actor Deb Mukherjee
• Key Attendees: Kajol Devgn, Rani Mukerji, Karan Johar, Jaya Bachchan, Hrithik Roshan, Alia Bhatt, Ranbir Kapoor, Vicky Kaushal
• Media Stance: Family requested limited photography to preserve privacy; promised post‑event photo release