Finally! Exposed two rolls of film. The one on the right is my first ever 120mm roll of film. The battle to find a lab that still develops and prints these has been going on for the past few weeks. The excitement and the anticipation of waiting to see what the pictures come out like is quite my drinking habit - gave it up a long time ago but still remember what it feels like!
Will keep you posted and if the results aren't a complete disaster, will share with you as well!
" Where is your camera these days? Don't see it much..." Behzaad asked me a couple of weeks back. "It's always in my car," I said, "It's just that I am really sick of shooting all of you (the ETF team) and only you - all the time! Maybe I should have cast Katrina Kaif in Arjun,instead of you guys!!!"
"...or maybe Priyanka Chopra," chimed in Shaleen and we all had a hearty laugh.
The truth was that I really was getting frustrated of shooting only these guys - mostly under lighting conditions that were set up by the cameraman on set. I felt that I was contributing very little, if at all, to the creation of the pictures that I post so often. My trigger finger was getting itchy. I had not shot something for almost 15 days. Even a call from Raju Bhai, my trusted friend and camera dealer, telling me that a lens that I had ordered long back was finally in stock, failed to excite me. I almost reluctantly went and picked up the wide angle 17-35mm lens from his place late at night and got it home.
On my way to the set the next day, stuck in a Mumbai traffic jam, I started flipping through my "Inspiration" notebook. It is actually a software called Evernote which I use very often to keep quotes, pictures, photographs and other stuff for future reference - or for times just like these. I came across this quote:
To select well among old things, is almost equal to inventing new ones. - Nicholas Charles Trublet
Then it struck me - what I needed to create/invent was already around me. I had very willing and able actors who would do (practically) anything for me and I was surrounded by lights every single day - the two most important components of photography! All I needed to do was to get them together and create a shot that I could call mine! I had a few images in my head that I wanted to shoot as a part of a project that I had been thinking of for quite some time. I reached the set that day, determined to get my shot before the day got over. In between all my meetings, discussions and briefings that day, I kept my camera around my neck and an eye out for the frame that I wanted to capture. Finally, in the evening as everybody was going about their work - I identified the shot I wanted to take and I quietly asked a couple of lightmen to help me setup the lights for my shot.
As soon as Behzaad got free, I asked him to come with me and took the photograph. After him, it was Shaleen's turn but unfortunately, by that time, the cameraman on set had ordered those lights to be brought in because he needed them. I barely managed to get Shaleen's picture as I asked the lightmen, who were already in the process of taking the lights away to step outside the frame. If I remember correctly, both the pictures took a total of two minutes.
Also, as I thanked them and walked away, I cannot be sure... but from the corner of my eye, I think I saw Behzaad and Shaleen exchange a high-five and in between their muted laughter, I distinctly heard one of them say something about Katrina Kaif...
As usual, you can find the large versions of these pictures on my Google Plus page.
The other day, I was doing some research for one of the stories in my TV show "Arjun" and was discussing some art related stuff with my friend Hitesh Kewalya. Considering that the subject was art and he is from NID, he did most of the talking while I just sat there with my "Yeah, I completely get it!" look. That was the first time I heard the mention of Bollywood Art Project. According to the BAP (as it's fondly called) Facebook group page:
"Bollywood Art Project is an urban public art project that aims to transform the walls of Mumbai into a celebration of its cinema. As a build up to the 100 years celebration of Indian cinema, in 2013, we aim to commemorate Bollywood through various art works & campaigns. BAP is the brainchild of artist Ranjit Dahiya and co-founder Tony Peter. It is an attempt at mapping the cinematic history of India over the last century. The medium is street art and graffiti set in the tone of the' hand-painted poster, intended to open out to various other art forms also. "
Needless to say, I was quite fascinated by the work that they are doing and as luck would have it, yesterday, I found myself shooting in Bandra very close to where this small cottage is.I would have completely missed it as it is tucked away in one of the by-lanes but thanks to one particular unit member who saw it and brought it to my attention, I took a small walk and shot these pictures. It is quite sight to see and if you are in Mumbai, please go and do take a look.
The Bollywood Art Project's Facebook Page is here and the group is here.
As usual, you can see the large images on my G+ page.
As Arjun completes 50 episodes today, I wanted to thank all the people who have been watching this show. This show has been a roller coaster ride ever since it started and being on a roller coaster for a long time is never easy. Hats off and a heartfelt thanks to everyone involved with the show who have relentlessly given it their best - day after day. I also want to thank all the people who have been watching the show regularly and letting us know their feedback about the show through various polls and critiques especially the small but passionate community of Arjun watchers on Forum 32. Please keep the praises and brickbats coming!!!
The picture above is a glimpse of what you will be watching tonight. We are working very hard to bring you even better episode of Arjun and starting from tonight's episode there are going to be quite a few surprises. Stay tuned, keep watching and keep interacting.
Here are some pictures that I shot in the year 2012 but I don't think I ever got around to posting them. Hopefully, I will dig up some more to add to these in a few days. You might or might not think that they are great pictures but they are the best I clicked, at a personal level. To be honest, I don't think a couple of them even should be here - but that is not the point. The point is to shoot better pictures than this (and hopefully in a larger quantity!) in the coming year, so that when I do a similar titled post next year I will be able to see some journey, some growth and some added proficiency!