RADIO
SARGAM REPORT: Dabboo Ratnani’s 2005 Calendar Launch Party!
When a
photographer throws a party, people come in a flash, especially when
the party is to launch his 6th annual calendar featuring 24 of the biggest
stars in glamsville. Radio Sargam, of course, was also part of the guest
list!
Ace photographer
Dabboo Ratnani had a three-pronged celebration on Dec 23,’04 at
the Zaha Lounge. Dabboo and his wife Manisha brought in their birthdays
at midnight and he also unveiled his much-awaited 2005 calendar.
The who’s
who of the film and corporate world that attended the do attested the
shutterbug’s popularity in the industry. It was a glamour mayhem
comprising of Hrithik Roshan, Abhishek Bachchan, John Abraham, Bipasha
Basu. Fardeen Khan, Lara Dutta, Esha Deol, Urmila Mataondkar, Sameera
Reddy, Riya Sen, Aftab Shivdasani, Rahul Dev, Parveen Dabas, Sanjay
Suri, Tusshar Kapoor, Sanjay Gupta, Rohit Roy, Dino Morea, Manish Malhotra,
Rocky S, Mohd. Azharuddin, Sukhbir, Akashdeep Saigal, Atul Agnihotri,
Aly Khan, Marc Robinson, Arjun Khanna, Priti & Surendra Hiranandani,
Kishen & Tanya Kumar, Shailendra Singh, etc
In just
a decade Dabboo has carved an enviable niche for himself. His finesse
and creativity have seen almost all the pretty women of Bollywood and
the handsome man posing for him in front of the camera.
Each year
his New Year calendar is awaited with bated breath by the bollywood
fraternity. While actors feel proud to be featured in his calendar,
collectors are proud to own one. That is the magic this simple, shy,
down-to-earth photographer has created in just 6 years, ever since he
first launched his calendar in the year 2000.
This year
calendar sizzles with 24 of Bollywood’s smashing personalities
where in either side of the desk calendar features an actor and an actress:
And
Yes! Flash makes an appearance too. Flash, Dabboo’s lovable pet
(boxer) is a star in his own right and has graced many a magazine pages.
This year he shares his calendar space with handsome Salman Khan.
Dabboo’s
‘05 calendar is different from last five years. This year he marked
his foray into digital photography and imaging. The aesthetically shot
calendar has been captured on the Hasselblad H1 with the Leaf Valeo
22 Megapixel digital back, probably the only one combination of its
kind in the country.
The calendar
has been conceptualized by Dabboo Ratnani and Rajeev Chudasama. The
idea was to capture the stars like they have never been shot before
therefore each star was shot on a separate day keeping the theme in
mind. The calendar design and look is very futuristic.
Dabboo and his wife Manisha cut the birthday cake at the dot of 12(Both
of them are on born on the same day-Dec 24!). The merry making continued
till the wee hours, with the guests flowing in non-stop, even at 4 in
the morning. The favorite haunt of film stars, models and Page 3 regulars
trooped in and helped their favorite lensman celebrate.
REPORT
BY RADIO SARGAM
