TITLE: Shweta Tripathi

Shweta Tripathi and I had always wanted to collaborate, and the creative discussions we often had over Instagram and texts were always fun and creatively invigorating. That is, until this time, when she flew down to Bengaluru be a part of my project titled, ‘The Anxiety Series’. While the first day went in the telling stories through mood based images for the series, we had one more day to just lighten up and hang out over coffee which is when this portrait was made.

Knowing that the world loves her for her gripping performances in films like ‘Masaan’ and ‘Haraamkhor’, and very recently in the popular series ‘Mirzapur’ and ‘Made in Heaven’ had given me a headstart on conversations. But as we spoke, she unfurled as this really down to earth and jolly person with utter warmth in her demeanour. Time was passing by pleasantly between work talks and random chuckles as we sat there in a café in Bengaluru, while I had the opportunity to click this candid portrait of hers. I attribute it to a chanced combination of diffused natural light, a breezy mood, and the grace in her expressions and laughter alike.

Shweta Tripathi is an Indian actress who works in the Hindi film industry. She came to limelight with the critics favourite, 'Masaan' (2015) where she mesmerised everyone with her acting skills. 'Masaan' was showcased at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival where it won the FIPRESCI Prize in the Un Certain Regard section and a 'Promising Future' prize (Prix de l'avenir) for debut films. Shweta is also known for essaying powerful roles in Haraamkhor (2015), Laakhon Mein Ek (2017), Mirzapur (2018) and Gone Kesh(2019).

AUTHOR: Arjun Kamath (India)

Arjun Kamath is an award-winning, internationally published photographer & filmmaker. He is known for creating photo stories that entail crucial social messages which have been published by the United Nations, Nat Geo, Vogue, BuzzFeed, HuffPost, and other reputed global media houses. His professional expertise is supported by a Master’s in Film & Television Production from one of the world’s finest film schools, the USC School of Cinematic Arts in Los Angeles. Kamath finds a unique approach in photography, marked by dramatic compositions, vibrant imagery, and heart-stirring stories. His photographs in fashion, travel, storytelling, and street photography have been awarded at the International Photography Award, Monochrome Awards, and IPOTY, to name a few. Also a connoisseur of films, Kamath has made his mark in the international filmmaking industry in the role of a Director and Cinematographer. His work has been featured and awarded at prestigious international film festivals, like the Santa Barbara International Film Festival, Cleveland Film Festival, and Seattle International Film Festival. Also fond of smartphone photography, he often experiments on his smartphone camera to capture travel and other everyday stories. Moment has featured his Macro Series shot on a smartphone and the world-renowned Hamdan Bin Mohammed International Photography Award has honoured him as a finalist worldwide for his smartphone-only fashion shot. In the last 12 years that he has spent making pictorial stories, films, and artful photography, he has also enjoyed collaborating with like-minded artists from the Indian film industry for vivid and creative photo shoots. As a storyteller and artist, he approaches the world as a treasure trove of frames, emotions, and stories yet to be told. He is always enthusiastic about making unique pictures that pass on a thought or a message and bring a new story to life.