Celebrity photographer Avinash Gowariker has worked with several Bollywood celebrities, including Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai, and Deepika Padukone, among others. However, he says his best experience has been with actor Shah Rukh Khan, whose ‘kind’ nature amazed him on the sets of Duplicate (1998). In addition, he also revealed that SRK gives a blank cheque to his technicians and they can fill an amount of their choice.
During an interview with Bollywood Bubble, Avinash recalled his interaction with Shah Rukh on his film Duplicate’s sets. “I was a nobody photographer. I had to take an on set shot while he was shooting for Duplicate. I went on set for the shot, and it was a struggle. I can’t even begin to tell how kind Shah Rukh was to me, I’ll never forget it,” he shared.
The photographer added, “I was fumbling around a little, he kept asking me what I want and he will arrange. He said, ‘Ek aur light chahiye? Tu tension mat le, araam se kar’ (Don’t overthink or take stress). I was so overwhelmed. Who has so much kindness? There is something about him that he take care.”
Avinash assumed that his gentle behaviour was probably because he himself is an outsider in the industry and values kindness. “He also came to Mumbai with nothing. He might be also seeing something about him and all people who are struggling. He knows that he has been there and what kindness means to somebody. You have to see him to believe him,” he said.
He also revealed that working with Shah Rukh Khan is a bliss as he hands over a blank cheque to his technicians. “As a producer also, he will give you the world. He will give his technicians… its a blank cheque for every technician, whatever you want. Whatever you want as a DOP, photographer, he will give,” Avinash concluded.
On the work front, Shah Rukh Khan will next be seen in the film King, with his daughter Suhana Khan. The film is set to release in 2026. Meanwhile, the actor also recently made his MET Gala debut this year.