SHOOTING STARS

ACE PHOTOGRAPHER ROHAN SHRESTHA HAS MADE A NAME FOR HIMSELF GLOBALLY BY SHOOTING INTERNATIONAL CELEBRITIES. HE TALKS TO RUPSHA SEN ABOUT HIS JOURNEY

- RUPSHA SEN

Rohan Shrestha literally grew up in the lap of celebrities, as his father, Rakesh Shrestha, was one of their favourite photographers. Rohan has taken his father’s legacy further by not only emerging as the go-to photographer when it comes to Indian celebs but also international luminaries. He’s shot the likes of Leo Messi, Kevin Hart, Jason Momoa, Sofia Vergara, and Manchester City FC as well. He’s known for his black-and-white series, which has become something of a trademark of his. Presenting excerpts from an engaging interview with the talented photographer...

YOUR PHOTOGRAPHY STYLE SEEMS REAL AND PERSONAL. 

I began this White T-shirt series thing many years ago because I wanted to shoot headshots of Abhay Deol and he wanted to work in LA and New York. I did not know what headshots were, so I just googled them. And then I saw Hollywood actors and their headshots – just a plain and simple white T-shirt. And then there’s no hair and makeup. It’s just a simple picture. So then I started doing this on every shoot. It’s like a nice warm-up shot. I don’t direct them during this. I just tell them to be themselves. I was just doing it for fun, until somebody came up to me and told me, “Oh, you know, this series that you’re doing this black and white stuff and all. It’s so nice, you should keep doing it.” And I was like, “Yeah, actually, why not?” That man was your editor, Jitesh Pillaai. I shot my first cover with Filmfare in 2010. I shot Ranbir Kapoor right after Wake Up Sid! It changed my entire career. The cover put me on the map and my career took off from there. It has gotten me where I am now.