'We have all come to thank the mirror'

Nidhi Taparia

Ace lens man Gautam Rajadhyaksha finally unveiled his first ever exhibition in India in Pune. Previously, he has held only two exhibitions -- a small show in Dubai and a BBC- sponsored exhibition in Birmingham.

Inaugurated by Asha Bhosle, Chehre is a loving collection of Bollywood's most celebrated faces.

Lauding his effort with their presence were stars like Asha Bhosle, Madhuri Dixit-Nene, Kajol, Tanuja and the Haasan couple, Sarika and Kamal. Also present were Gautam's famous cousin, Shobha De, director Mahesh Manjrekar and Rajashree Birla (the exhibition is being sponsored by the Aditya Birla group).

The effect that these stars had on their fans was electric. Despite a select crowd of 500, there were at least a hundred more who clambered onto nearby trees for a dekho.

Touching tales, sentimental associations, witty anecdotes, Asha Bhosle breaking into impromptu songs and more, marked the long, albeit interesting, inaugural ceremony.

"This is the first exhibition in India. The reason I chose Pune is that, for two years, someone or the other has been hounding me to exhibit my photographs here," explained Gautam. The exhibition will last another two days.

Six hundred pictures of the industry's Who’s Who, segregated according to their families, are placed against a grey background on the Fergusson College grounds. Beginning with Durga Khote, the first lady of cinema, to Esha Deol, the latest entrant in the industry, they are all there. The effect on the viewers is simply stunning.

Talking about the preparations that went into the exhibition, Gautam said, "Each picture has been painstakingly put up by my assistant, with the help of a team of volunteers. In fact, Sarika was up till four in the morning, helping us put the pictures up. From former assistants to friends, everyone has all gone out of their way to help me!"

The security of the images was paramount on everyone's minds. From protective railings (so that the viewers could not touch the pictures) to not allowing videos, camcorders or cameras, stringent measures were taken to ensure the well-being of the pictures. "Thirty pictures," explains Gautam, "were stolen from my exhibition in Birmingham, which was organized by the BBC. I don't want the incident repeated."

Kamal Haasan gave a befitting end to the ceremony when he quipped, "We have all come to thank the mirror!"

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