Dabboo Ratnani

Guess what is the common element in Dabboo Ratnani’s calendar every year? No idea! Well, it is Flash, his Boxer, who is his adorable companion 24×7. He is with him at home, in car and even at his studio. In 2007 calendar, Flash can be seen with Big B, in a very compassionate moment. The calendar also features Salman with his two Mastiffs – Myson and Myjaan. A real treat for dog lovers, I must say!

Which is the most awaited calendar of the year? Of course, Dabboo Ratnani calendar would come as an instant answer and why not? Each leaf of the calendar captures a spectacular view of a top Bollywood celebrity, each looking his/her stunning best. This irresistible calendar was launched this year with much fanfare by none other than Big B – Amitabh Bachchan.
Unlike every year, this year Dabboo’s calendar has a theme – water. As Dabboo puts it, “Water is so versatile. There are so many ways of capturing it – in glass, coffee, swimming pool, whiskey, sea, drinking, and so on…” Just pick up the calendar and you will see how water has been picturised beautifully and differently, not to forget our charming celebrities, which include Big B, John Abraham, Bipasha, Aishwarya, Priyanka, Abhishek Bachchan, Ria Sen, Arjun Rampal, Shahrukh Khan, Bobby Deol, Salman Khan, to name a few.
But, what really caught the attention of dog lovers were two brilliant snapshots – one of Amitabh Bachchan with Dabboo’s dog Flash and the other of Salman Khan with his two dogs – Myson and Myjaan. Picture perfect! The chemistry between the stars and the paw stars looks amazing.
So, how did the idea of shooting Big B with Flash came in Dabboo’s mind? “Flash has always been a part of my calendar for the past six years and I was thinking how I can incorporate him with my water theme and with which star,” tells Dabboo. “And then, I remembered that Amitabh Bachchan has never been shot with Flash but after meeting Flash a couple of times at my studio, he became friendly with him and now, they have even started having a lot of fun together.” …We all know that dog love is contagious… it really spreads. Our paw star has found the superstar of the millennium! Great going, Flash!
Telling about this particular shot, Dabboo recalls, “This particular shot shows humanity and compassion for animals. It shows Amitabh collecting some water in his hand and giving it to Flash. The picture shows a lot of consideration for our canines and both Amitabh and Flash have given their best shot.” Big B has always stood for good causes and he has proved it once again! While Big B has brought alive the compassion for canines, Salman has brought alive the element of fun and adventure we share with our lovely furry angels. The trio – Salman and his two Mastiffs are enjoying life in the rain. The three look relaxed, enjoying every moment, without anything to worry!
“Salman is an avid dog lover and he is very fond of his dogs – Myson and Myjaan. He takes good care of his dogs and every week, they spend some time together at Salman’s farmhouse in Punvil,” tells Dabboo enthusiastically. “This particular shot is one among the series of shots I took with these three stars. They went for a walk and even bathed together…having a great time throughout. The whole space around them came live with their antics.”
“The whole scenario inspired us to take some really live pictures. My idea was to shoot a rugged picture of Salman, enjoying his way out with his dogs. His mood is cowboy-like and his Mastiffs add to the ruggedness. We created rain in the picture and the dogs simply loved it,” tells Ratnani. And we have no doubts that the trio loved the shoot – as is it, they were doing something which is completely natural – togetherness.
So, how did Myson and Myjaan react to the shoots. “Oh! They were very co-operative. They are complete outdoor animals and they love water. They even enter into a waterfall and river and splash their way around,” tells Dabboo. How many shots were needed to get that perfect one? “It is very difficult to shoot with animals as they are very restless and you need to be quick to capture the right moment.” All who have tried to click a family picture would recall that our sweet canine either looks away or dashes toward some distraction, just when the camera goes ‘click.’
“I took almost 40 shots until I got the one I was looking for. So, it needs a lot of patience to shoot with pet stars. Sometimes, I get the perfect shot in one go and sometimes, it can even extend to a couple of hours,” tells Dabboo. While our celebrities need a lot of time to dress up to match the perfect look, our canines are their natural self as they are more comfortable that way and any distractions and instructions can annoy them. Always accommodating and admirably relaxed, never pushy but gently persuasive, Dabboo has a knack of getting his pictures despite the odds…
Dabboo Ratnani is a name that is synonymous with excellence and creativity. From personality portraits and advertising campaigns to fashion and magazine layouts, Dabboo has developed and showcased a discriminating and unique style of his profession. Those who have not been lucky enough to get a copy of Dabboo Ratnani’s calendar can check it out at www.dabbooratnani.com