FILMS, FRAME AND FAME

ACE FASHION AND CELEBRITY PHOTOGRAPHER AVINASH GOWARIKER HAD A HUMBLE BEGINNING. PHOTOGRAPHY TURNED FROM A CHANCED ENCOUNTER TO PASSION AT A VERY YOUNG AGE FOR AVINASH AND HE HASN’T LOOKED BACK. FROM SHOOTING BOLLYWOOD BEHEMOTHS SUCH AS SHAHRUKH KHAN, SALMAN KHAN, AAMIR KHAN, AMITABH BACHCHAN TO WORKING FOR BIG TICKET BRANDS SUCH AS COCACOLA, NDTV, KIA MOTORS, KAUN BANEGA CROREPATI AND MORE, HE HAS CEMENTED HIS POSITION AS A FORCE TO RECKON WITH. WE TALK TO HIM ABOUT HIS ENTRY INTO THIS CAREER AND HOW IT HAS PROGRESSED.

- AVINASH GOWARIKER

Could you tell us a little about how photography started for you?

I was 12th standard fail and I wanted to leave education - college dropout, because I was not interested in academics and studies. my neighbour was a photographer, not a very well known photographer, and she used to do model portfolios. I assisted her in one or two shoots and she called me to assist as a summer job and I got paid `250 per shoot back at that time, in the 90s. And I thought this was fantastic and when I saw how she functions and does everything, I thought photography is a great career. that’s how it began. And then, Ashutosh Gowariker, who is my first cousin, told me “Avi, if you want to be a photographer, you will first have to have shoots from celebrities”. So, he was shooting a film called Baazi, he was the director, he asked me to assist him on the film, get to know the film industry and he said he would introduce me to Aamir (khan). I will request him to give you a chance. I can only give you a chance, but after that if you are good then it is your luck. so he introduced me to Aamir and I shot some pictures of Aamir that time, outdoor. Aamir liked them and I got lucky. so, to be honest Ashu (Ashutosh Gowarikar) is my first pillar, my second pillar is Aamir, who gave me my chance and then he introduced me to Karisma Kapoor, who was shooting for Raja Hindustani at that time, with him. so I shot Karisma and she introduced me to Salman (Khan). And when I met Salman and Salman liked my work, he took me under his wings and when Salman takes you under his wings you know your life is set. so he took me under his wings and I was very happy. so the three tripods of my life are Ashu (Ashutosh Gowariker), Aamir (Khan) and Salman (Khan) and because of them I am where I am.