Dabboo Ratnani is one of the very few fashion photographers in the film industry, who’s managed to achieve the status of a celebrity, with his annual calendar becoming a highly notable showbiz event in India.
A highly respected name in the industry, his annual calendar shoot is the talk of the town, and its indeed a great feat to get some many stars together under one roof (an achievement in itself) for the shoot. Directors who shoot multi-starrer films have a very hard time having to deal with so many stars, but with Dabboo, the stars are more than willing to oblige. And more often than not, the calendar turns out to be the starriest and sexiest calendar of the year!
“This year, we have done more outdoor shoots, you will see actors in quirky, never-seen-before avatars. We have Amitabh Bachchan as a biker boy with a dog in the sidecar. 2017 promises more madness and great fun.” Dabboo Ratnani
‘MS Dhoni: The Untold Story’ actress Disha Patani (and alleged girlfriend of Tiger Shroff) sheds her girl-next-door image as she goes topless for Dabboo Ratnani’s annual calendar.
Here’s How Dabboo Ratnani Makes Bollywood Stars Look Hot & Sexy
Audience love stars and people around these stars obey them, but on a photo-shoot its the other way around, the stars obey whatever Dabboo tells them to do…well, in front of the camera at-least.
“Priyanka Chopra has a crazy amount of energy. Most of our shoots happen late and she is always brimming with energy. Even when the world is exhausted, she will show them how to keep going. Her body language is more confident. She hates being repetitive.”
Not only does ace photographer Dabboo Ratnani shoot the leading stars in Bollywood, he’s also the cover photographer for all leading magazines in India. Magazines like Cosmopolitan, Filmfare, Hi Blitz, Ok India, Elle, Verve, Femina, The Man, and Better Homes and Gardens, feature his pictures. Dabboo Ratnani also happens to be the jury on some of the big beauty pageants.
“Hrithik Roshan is the most photogenic male star. He was my junior in school and I did his first photo shoot. Till date, he feels I am partly the reason for what he is today. Every year, we try a different lighting and mood.”
Dabboo also makes it a point to include his family as part of his overall branding strategy.
So you’ll see images of his wife Manisha and children Myrah, Kiara, Shivaan on his website, facebook page, and also on other media, once in a while.
Photography Tips by the Master
Here are some photography secrets shared by Dabboo Ratnani:
Let the World be your Studio
- Do not get into photography for the glamour- do it only if you truly love it.
- Do not shoot only in a studio. Each place has its own story to say, so an outdoor location adds to the character of the image.
- The perfect moment is the instance when you look through the viewfinder and just feel deep down inside that the light, composition & mood is perfect. When this happens to me, the shutter just refuses to stop until the memory card runs out of space!
More Photography tips by Dabboo Ratnani at Studiopsis.com
Dabboo Ratnani’s brother Vicky Ratnani is a celebrity Indian chef. Chef Vicky Ratnani appears regularly on NDTV Good Times as he shares the recipes of delectable dishes.
