Celebrity photographer Dabboo Ratnani recently shared interesting memories from his long association with Shah Rukh Khan. The photographer spoke about their many collaborations and revealed details about the way several iconic images were created over the years.
Discussion on Pooja Bhatt's Podcast
Dabboo Ratnani discussed his experiences during filmmaker and actress Pooja Bhatt's podcast. During the conversation, he opened up about the comfort level and natural understanding he shared with Shah Rukh during photoshoots.
Pooja Bhatt on Shah Rukh Khan's Presence
During the discussion, Pooja Bhatt pointed out a special quality often visible in Shah Rukh Khan's photographs. She suggested that the actor displayed a different side of himself during shoots with Ratnani. “You’ve really made Shah Rukh look very sexy. There’s something that he sheds with you,” she said. The conversation then moved towards the long professional relationship between Shah Rukh and Ratnani. The photographer shared details about their working style.
Majority of Shoots at Mannat
Speaking further, Dabboo Ratnani revealed that a majority of his sessions with Shah Rukh happened at the actor's residence. “With Shah Rukh, I’ve done 90% of my shoots in his house,” he said. Several memorable images from Shah Rukh's career have emerged during different phases of his journey, many of them coming from these collaborations.
Natural Moments at the Studio
Dabboo Ratnani also recalled a particular shoot at his studio in Oshiwara. Instead of following a structured approach, he allowed Shah Rukh to remain natural and enjoy the atmosphere. He remembered Shah Rukh spending time with his pet dog Flash while casually interacting during the visit. The photographer chose to capture those moments naturally. “When he came to my studio in Oshiwara, he was playing with Flash, with my doggy. And I took pictures of that. So he started enjoying that moment rather than posing for a picture. During his phases of whatever look he was in, I used to pull out a concept as per that,” said Dabboo Ratnani.
Unusual Concept from a Tyre Shop
Dabboo Ratnani also shared another memory involving one of his unusual concepts. He explained that inspiration for one shoot came during an ordinary visit to a tyre shop. The photographer noticed a stack of discarded tyres and immediately imagined a visual concept around it. “For instance, I was literally getting my tyre change done at the tyre shop. And there was a guy who was chucking these used tyres into a tempo. I said, wow, man, what a backdrop. And I contacted the tyre shop and got those 200 tyres to Mehboob studio, created that whole set with those ripped tyres and everything and did that shot,” he recalled.
Upcoming Project 'King'
Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan is preparing for his upcoming project 'King'. The film is being directed by Siddharth Anand. The action thriller is expected to arrive in theatres on December 24, 2026.
