The Assignment That Never Ended
I still remember being confused when my friend Shrikant called and asked me to document an advertising shoot.
Not shoot the campaign.
Not shoot the actors.
Just document the set.
Back then, nobody was talking about behind-the-scenes content. There was no Instagram strategy. No BTS team. No content calendar.
So my first question was simple:
“Why does an ad shoot need a documentary photographer?”
When I arrived, I was introduced to the producer and director of the campaign — Gajraj Rao.
I knew I had seen him somewhere before, but I couldn’t place him.
The brief was even more confusing.
There wasn’t one.
“Just shoot whatever you like.”
As photographers, we’re trained to look for instructions.
What does the client want?
What photographs are needed?
What should be delivered?
This time, nobody told me.
So I photographed what interested me.
The people.
The process.
The waiting.
The conversations.
The small moments happening around the actual shoot.
I submitted the photographs and waited.
And then…
Nothing.
No feedback.
No appreciation.
No complaints.
Nothing.
A few more projects happened after that, and then I wasn’t called again.
Naturally, I assumed they didn’t like my work.
One day, I called Shrikant and asked what had gone wrong.
His answer surprised me.
“Gajraj thinks you’re too talented for this kind of work. The amount we’re paying isn’t justified.”
I laughed.
Honestly, I thought that was just a polite way of rejecting someone.
Life moved on.
Years Later, the Phone Rang Again
It was Shrikant.
This time, it wasn’t for an ad shoot.
It was for Badhaai Ho.
Suddenly, I found myself documenting Gajraj Rao again.
Only now, things felt different.
The day began with interviews and media interactions.
Then came the premiere.
Outside the venue, dozens of photographers were waiting.
Everybody was looking for the stars.
Ayushmann.
Sanya.
The big arrivals.
The big photographs.
The big headlines.
We waited for Neena Gupta so she and Gajraj could walk in together.
I remember the reaction being respectful but calm.
Then the film ended.
And everything changed.
When we stepped outside, the crowd of photographers exploded.
Flashes everywhere.
People shouting his name.
Everybody wanted a photograph.
Standing there, I realised I was witnessing something special.
Not just the success of a film.
A turning point in a person’s journey.
Years earlier, I couldn’t remember where I had seen him.
Now everyone knew exactly who he was.
When Work Turns Into Trust
What followed was something neither of us could have predicted.
One project became another.
One assignment became another.
Years passed.
Films happened.
Life happened.
And somewhere along the way, the photographer-client relationship quietly disappeared.
Trust replaced it.
From Badhaai Ho to Jolly LLB 3, I found myself documenting not just the films, but the journey itself.
Looking back, I think that’s what Gajraj sir saw in those early photographs.
He wasn’t looking for another photographer with expensive equipment.
He wasn’t looking for someone who could create flashy images.
He was interested in documenting the process.
The life happening around the work.
The moments most people never think about preserving.
The conversations inside a vanity van before a difficult scene.
The makeup and hair team spending hours helping an actor become a character.
The rehearsals that never make it to the screen.
The nervous energy before a big shot.
The laughter after a stressful day finally goes right.
The quiet moments between all the action.
Over the years, I realised he was thinking much bigger than a social media post or a publicity image.
He understood the value of preserving a journey.
Almost like creating a visual diary.
Or a coffee table book that tells the story behind the film, not just the film itself.
Because years later, nobody remembers how many likes a photograph received.
But people do want to know how something was made.
Who was there.
What the atmosphere felt like.
What was happening behind the camera.
That’s the power of documentary photography.
It preserves time.
It turns ordinary moments into history.
The Photographs Nobody Plans For
As photographers, we often become obsessed with the final image.
But some of the most meaningful photographs I’ve ever taken were never planned.
They happened because I was paying attention.
A look between two actors before a scene.
A director sitting quietly after a difficult shot.
A crew member sleeping in a corner after working eighteen hours.
Those moments tell a different story.
A human story.
And that’s usually the story I’m interested in.
In the Age of Perfect Images
Today, we live in a world full of perfect photographs.
Actors post beautifully lit portraits.
Campaigns are polished.
Everything is carefully curated.
And now, with AI, creating a visually perfect image has become easier than ever.
But the more technology advances, the more I find myself valuing the imperfect moments.
Because AI can create a portrait.
It can imitate lighting.
It can generate a face that never existed.
What it cannot do is witness a moment.
It cannot stand inside a vanity van before an actor walks onto a set.
It cannot feel the tension before an important scene.
It cannot capture the relief on a crew member’s face when a difficult day finally comes together.
Those moments only exist once.
And if nobody documents them, they disappear forever.
Maybe that’s why I still love documentary photography.
Not because it creates perfect images.
But because it preserves real memories.
And years from now, when the film is released, the promotions are over, and everyone has moved on to the next project, those photographs remain.
Quiet evidence that it all happened.
That a group of people came together and created something worth remembering.
And for me, that has always been enough.
A Thank You
Thank you, Gajraj sir, for trusting me with those moments.
And for reminding me that sometimes, the story behind the story is the one worth preserving.
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The Day I Walked Onto a Film Set and Never Left
Beautifully written mate . Loved reading it .
Making memories that will last a lifetime.
Beautifully written. Absolutely loved reading this.
We love your expressions in photos and now we loved your expressions in words.. You are multi talented.. Proud of you ❤️
Your journey captures more than moments … it reveals stories hidden in light and shadow. Each frame feels like a quiet conversation between vision and emotion. Your journey is inspiring; it reminds us that true photography isn’t just seen, it’s felt, lived, and timelessly remembered through your unique perspective behind the lens