Mumbai: Ace Bollywood and fashion photographer Gautam Rajadhyaksha, whose glamorous photoshoots helped propel many actors to stardom, passed away here early Tuesday following a massive heart attack, family sources said. He was 62.
Rajadhyaksha passed away at his residence here, his family said. The funeral of Rajadhyaksha, cousin of writer Shobhaa De, will be held this evening.
Rajadhyaksha was very popular among film personalities and worked on portraits of almost all the leading stars of the Indian film industry.
A cousin of writer and socialite Shobha De, Rajadhyaksha was a keen collector of opera recordings and had held several talk shows on the subject. He was also involved with projects concerning Western and Indian classical music.
"My darling Gautam Rajadhyaksha no more. Saddened beyond belief. Farewell confidante-cousin. Thank you for your generous love and soft focus memories," tweeted De after his demise.
One of India's most celebrated portraitist, he has photographed almost all the icons of the Indian film industry. A classmate of actor Shabana Azmi, Rajadhyaksha left his advertising job in 1987 and took up commercial photography. He worked for De's magazine 'Celebrity' and soon emerged as a leading celebrity photographer.
"Possibly one of the sweetest and most gentle people you would ever meet. Rest in peace Gautam, you will be greatly missed," actor Abhishek Bachchan tweeted.
Karan Johar said "When I was hugely overweight...gautam told me.."Darling...not that it makes a difference but try to give me your left profile...it may help! A deep sense of loss...we lost the one man who captured every movie star with his lens and his heart...RIP Gautam...you will remain forever!"
His first encounter with fashion photography happened in 1980, when he shot pictures of veteran actress Shabana Azmi, Tina Munim and Jackie Shroff. Rajadhyaksha left his advertising job in 1987 and took up commercial photography full-time. He soon started doing product campaigns, media assignments and fashion portfolios.
In 1997, he released a coffee table book, 'FACES', containing 45 film personalities beginning with Durga Khote and ending with Aishwarya Rai Bachchan. In 1992, he wrote his first screenplay for 'Bekhudi', which launched actress Kajol's career and his second 'Anjaam' presented Madhuri Dixit in a challenging role.
Mourning Gautam's death, De said, "Gautam's soft-focus photography style was unique and his artistic personality was unmatched. There will be only one Gautam."
Several Bollywood personalities also took to Twitter to express their grief over his demise. Legendary singer Lata Mangeshkar said, "He used to like opera and had a sound knowledge of classical ragas. He talked to us on music and also explained photography to me."
"Gautam Rajadhyaksha the most gentlest of humans, and one of the finest photographers in the industry, a friend, family favorite. RIP. Too shocked to learn of Gautam! Were talking about him just the other day. Many of his pictures adorn our house and our books," Amitabh Bachchan wrote on Twitter. (With additional information from IANS and PTI)
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