'I have captured the spontaneity and warmth in my pictures'

Asghar Ali

The picture perfect wedding of Hrithik Roshan and Suzanne Khan was not immortalised by a jostling bunch of mediamen or an explosion of flashbulbs by 1200 odd photographers.

It was captured by Sanjay Khan's cousin brother, Asghar Ali.

There was mututal consensus to request Asghar to bring out his skills as an expert photographer of the moment.

Asghar, the resident director of Ashok Leyland Project Service, part of the Hinduja Group in New Delhi, shares a deep emotional bond with the Khan children.

I have been involved with the production side of filmmaking for many years now. I think my pictures reflect this curious mix of emotions and technique.

Perhaps it was good that it did not strike me till it was all over, how much of a responsibility this turned out to be.

Apart from being the only one to capture the wedding in all its hues and colours, I had, let's face it, the direct responsibility to Hrithik and Suzanne for documenting the most important day of their lives.

I was witnessing the most private and the most public of emotions, where precious moments such as family prayers, parental emotions, moments of thought and reflection existed.

Not to mention the 300 odd exclusive guests who could not contain their eagerness and exuberance to be photographed next to Hrithik and Suzanne.

I was constantly amazed at the intensity of feeling that Hrithik evoked in people of all age groups, from children to elders. That is when I realised the peculiar phenomenon of this young sensation. They all wanted a warm, smiling Hrithik next to them in a picture they would cherish forever.

Therefore, my task was divided between Hrithik the private person, the groom, the son-in-law, and Hrithik, the public figure, who had admirable patience to pose as often as requested without a frown.

The event, of course, was a grand success, thanks to the extraordinary arrangements and hospitality extended by Sanjay and Zarine Khan.

Guests from all over the world brought colour and spirit to the events and my pictures speak for themselves.

Hrithik and Suzanne gave equal importance to the staff of Golden plams, as they found time the day after the wedding to pose for pictures with them.

This was their gesture to thank them for all their wonderful effort.

I was flooded with compliments for my pictures. But how could I have gone wrong when I had the magnificent setting of Golden Palms as the backdrop to all the colour, fanfare, costumes and good looks around me? Not to speak of the couple themselves!

I feel privileged to have been the only one to take the pictures so eagerly awaited by the world. For me, it was a labour of sheer joy and love for Suzanne and Hrithik.

I am present in around six of the 1200 pictures I took and it is thanks to my wife Saba who pushed me into the frame every now and then.

The singular quality that my pictures have, I feel, is the spontaneity and warmth which has been captured.

This is probably due to the proximity I enjoyed as a member of the family which, frankly speaking, no professional could have enjoyed.