A NEW DIMENSION IN FASHION

Anai Bharucha's artistic vision stems from a variety of places. She has shot a variety of genres starting with fashion, but her personal work is far away from what she does commercially, dwelling on themes of body positivity, wellness, individuality, family and more. Her work has gained international recognition, as she's worked with brands like Estée Lauder, Reebok, Bodice, Vogue India, Harpers Bazaar and more. Asian Photography caught up with her, talking about her inspirations, vision behind a picture or a picture series, and the ultimate advice that is required for this day and age. Excerpts:

- Anai Bharucha

How did you pick up the camera? What inspired you?

I originally picked up a Nikon F70 that my uncle gave me almost 15 years ago in Hong Kong. He used to be a professional sports photographer. I shot a cricket match at the Kowloon Cricket Club (KCC) just for fun, and I remember really enjoying the process of freezing a moment in time.

My uncle praised my work with so much heart, even though it was probably just average! It gave me a sense of confidence, so I kept shooting. I came back to Bombay and started shooting my friends, and I found far more joy in shooting fashion and people. I started to apply for courses in the UK and New York, as there was nothing in India that was quite so specific in the field I wanted to explore at the time. Fast forwarding, I ended up spending three years in London at UAL. Looking back, I do not believe anyone needs to study photography (at a school), however I will always be grateful for the exposure and world I got to be part of during my time away from home. It gave me a personal sense of style and aesthetic and helped to really mould my work at a time when fashion in India meant celebrity on a white background flanked by wind machines cover shoots.

How do you see the role of women evolving in the field of photography?

This is constantly changing, and the percentage of women in the field has definitely increased in the last 10 years. However, I do feel there is still a long way to go within the advertisement or commercial photography world, especially in India.