By his own admission, UK-based Pakistani fashion photographer-turned-video director Adnan Qazi “is a film buff, having grown up on Bollywood movies.”
In his school days, he would “steal the vintage camera in my mother’s closet, and go clicking anything under the sun. I think those were the initial signs [of the filmmaker] in me.”
Though he never got around to pursuing his passion — until now, when he’s just finished scripting his first film that starts filming next year — he says he was always “working towards it,” be it in the way he’d style his models, or choreograph their moves.
Even while he contributed freelance to glossies such as Harpers Bazaar, Vogue, Filmfare and Viya (Hindi for wedding), he never missed a chance to join a desi film shoot in London, in whatever capacity. That’s how he got into the British crews of Yash Chopra’s Jab Tak Hai Jaan, Shah Rukh Khan’s Ra One, and more recently, Shaan Shahid’s Arth — The Destination. For Arth…, director and lead actor Shahid trusted Qazi to shoot an entire song with Humaima Malik. This gave him the confidence to direct Farhan Saeed’s music video, Maula.
Today, Qazi has got a diploma from New York Film Academy. He’s also set up his media company, Silver Lemon, so named “considering the uplifting quality of the silver lemon haze drug,” he tells Gulf News tabloid! in an exclusive chat. His repertoire includes exclusive campaigns for Pakistan’s leading fashion designers — chiefly Nomi Ansari, Elan, and Maheen Khan — and celebrity shoots with the likes of Momina Mustehsan, Mawra Hocane, and Kiran Malik. His perennial favourite is Ali Zafar: “That guy is a photographer’s delight,” he says, gushingly. Excerpts from the interview follow:
What does photography mean to you? Is it just a creative art that is closely linked to your dream medium of film?
Photography has earned me a lot of respect in the industry. It connected me with so many talented, creative individuals. But it was never an end in itself for me; I was always drawn towards filmmaking. As we speak, I’ve finalised the script of my debut feature.
How was it like working on Jab Tak Hai Jaan? Did you engage with (the late) Yash Chopra or Shah Rukh Khan on the set?
I basically looked after Shah Rukh Khan’s styling for the song, Chhalia. It involved working with his design team only; I didn’t really get to interact with him. But I did spend some time with Yash ji. What a great man! He wouldn’t have his food until and unless all his crew members had it. He was a great foodie, though. I remember, on the breakfast table he’d be discussing the lunch menu, and at lunch time he’d be discussing dinner menu.
Your work involves collaborating with a number of creative people — designers, stylists, make-up artists etc. How much ownership can you claim of a project?
I am an artist, and when I take up a project, I begin with an image in my mind that I strive to translate on camera. I’m helped in this by a great team of assistants [at Silver Lemon Media].
Is London a demanding place for someone in your profession?
I believe I’m a patriotic person at heart. Every time I see some great billboards or shoots here, I want to be able to achieve those standards for my own country.
