Here are some exclusive shots from Dabboo Ratnani’s annual calendar and what went behind shooting them
Harshada Rege (DNA; January 28, 2019)

Dabboo Ratnani’s star-studded annual calendar will be unveiled today evening. Like every year, there will be a few new additions, but many familiar faces will also be a part of it. The ace photographer has been working with B-Town actors for a long time. And, they also never miss this date with the camera. Speaking about the goodwill that he enjoys in the industry, Dabboo says, “It’s all thanks to these actors that I have been able to carry on the tradition for the last 20 years. This is absolutely non-commercial, so I guess they must really be liking me (laughs). For them, it’s a space where they are doing something for themselves. This truly is for creative satisfaction.”

The lensman has ensured that this remains a non-commercial venture. “Every year, brands, who want to come on board as sponsors, approach. But I always say no. This is the only property of its kind and I don’t want to dilute it by adding a commercial angle to it,” he adds.

Dabboo promises that like every year, some of the biggest stars of Bollywood will feature this time around, too. He mentions, “I have been working with Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya (Rai Bachchan), Abhishek (Bachchan), Mr Bachchan, Akshay (Kumar) for so many years. They have always been a part of my calendar...that never changes. Each year, we try to introduce new faces to change the list a bit. But yes, I think around 18 people are permanently a part of my calendar.” The photographer shared some exclusive images and shared his thought behind them:

1. AKSHAY KUMAR
This was crazy because we shot on top of the metro at the Versova Yard. You can only think of Akshay Kumar to do something like this. It was a night shoot and this was a tricky shot to light up. But it turned out really well. You can see every detail, the depth and lighting too. We wrapped this up in about five minutes.


2. ALIA BHATT
The idea was to do a close up. Previously, we have done a lot of full-lengths. So this time, I thought we’ll keep it beautiful in the typical Dabboo Ratnani style of pictures where the actor looks absolutely stunning. My idea was to not try and make it look harsh or too edgy. I wanted to have beautiful pictures that you will want to keep in front of you through the year. On the right-hand side of the frame, you will see some smoke, which we created using some incense sticks. We tried to make it very dreamy, misty, and give it a very early morning kind of a fresh feel. Alia has a stunning face, so she could pull it off.


3. VIDYA BALAN
We have always tried to push the envelope with Vidya and do something sexy. In fact, her first picture in this stream was done by me. So, we have continued that tradition. She hasn’t attempted this kind of look with dreadlocks before. That’s why the lighting is slightly dramatic. The mood here is intense. It’s almost like being in her closet. In the foreground, there’s a mirror reflection of her as well. It’s like she is getting ready.

4. JACQUELINE FERNANDEZ
I kick-started the shoot of my calendar with Jacqueline. This was an early morning crazy, fun picture. I had gone to do a recce of an under-construction property and thought we could shoot some grungy images here. Even Jacqueline was surprised, but when she saw the image, she was blown away. This was shot with natural light. I love these kinds of shoots. In the studios, there’s only that much you can do, but here the location itself adds so much drama. She came by 7.30 am and by 8.15 am she was back home.