<p>Best known for his sublimely textured dazzling covers, Rajadhyaksha suffered a massive heart attack at 4 am at his residence in Girgaum, in south Mumbai.<br /><br />The lensman’s equally famous cousin, columnist Shobhaa De early in the day tweeted: “My darling Gautam Rajadhyaksha no more. Saddened beyond belief. Farewell confidant-cousin. Thank you for your generous love and soft focus memories.”<br /><br />Rajadhyaksha’s work ranged from portraits of well known personalities from industrial tycoons to film stars to aspiring actresses. Several of his models later went on to become major stars.<br /><br />In a photography career spanning around 30 years, he worked with almost all glossies shooting covers for them. Although he started his career with advertising firm Lintas as a copy writer, advertising never became a major part of his career.<br /><br />His foray into the world of journalism with a nudge from his cousin Shobhaa De for her magazine “Celebrity,” soon paved way for his first passion, photography. <br /><br />In a short span Rajadhyaksha began enjoying his position in the realm of idealised and fantasy like portrait and beauty photography. <br /><br />With the help of innovative lighting, he glamourised his subjects and soon this became an identifiable feature of his work, highlighting his models’ faces with sublimity.<br /><br />The capturing of richness of beauty and depth on black-and-white film and colour film alike made him the most sought-after portrait photographer, not just by personalities from the silver screen but also from the world of business and politics.<br /><br />From film actress Nutan–whose facial bone structure he once remarked during an interview to a journo as the best he had ever encountered in his life–to Smita Patil to Aishwarya Rai to business magnates like J R D Tata and Dhirubhai Ambani to mention a few, got their bewitching portraits to adorn magazines and private photo galleries.<br /><br />Born in 1950 in Mumbai, Rajadhyaksha, who became synonymous with Bollywood portrait photography during the 80s and 90s also experimented in film making and writing screen plays.<br /><br />Several film personalties tweeted their messages on Rajadhyaksha’s demise. <br />Karan Johar in his message stated: “Gautam Rajadhyaksha was one of my most favourite people in the fraternity... funny, sensitive and always positive.”<br /><br />Film and fashion photographer Atul Kasbekar tweeted, “My Guru n Mentor, Gautam Rajadhyaksha passed away this morning. My principal influence n a truly wonderful, gentle, kind n talented man.”</p>
<p>Best known for his sublimely textured dazzling covers, Rajadhyaksha suffered a massive heart attack at 4 am at his residence in Girgaum, in south Mumbai.<br /><br />The lensman’s equally famous cousin, columnist Shobhaa De early in the day tweeted: “My darling Gautam Rajadhyaksha no more. Saddened beyond belief. Farewell confidant-cousin. Thank you for your generous love and soft focus memories.”<br /><br />Rajadhyaksha’s work ranged from portraits of well known personalities from industrial tycoons to film stars to aspiring actresses. Several of his models later went on to become major stars.<br /><br />In a photography career spanning around 30 years, he worked with almost all glossies shooting covers for them. Although he started his career with advertising firm Lintas as a copy writer, advertising never became a major part of his career.<br /><br />His foray into the world of journalism with a nudge from his cousin Shobhaa De for her magazine “Celebrity,” soon paved way for his first passion, photography. <br /><br />In a short span Rajadhyaksha began enjoying his position in the realm of idealised and fantasy like portrait and beauty photography. <br /><br />With the help of innovative lighting, he glamourised his subjects and soon this became an identifiable feature of his work, highlighting his models’ faces with sublimity.<br /><br />The capturing of richness of beauty and depth on black-and-white film and colour film alike made him the most sought-after portrait photographer, not just by personalities from the silver screen but also from the world of business and politics.<br /><br />From film actress Nutan–whose facial bone structure he once remarked during an interview to a journo as the best he had ever encountered in his life–to Smita Patil to Aishwarya Rai to business magnates like J R D Tata and Dhirubhai Ambani to mention a few, got their bewitching portraits to adorn magazines and private photo galleries.<br /><br />Born in 1950 in Mumbai, Rajadhyaksha, who became synonymous with Bollywood portrait photography during the 80s and 90s also experimented in film making and writing screen plays.<br /><br />Several film personalties tweeted their messages on Rajadhyaksha’s demise. <br />Karan Johar in his message stated: “Gautam Rajadhyaksha was one of my most favourite people in the fraternity... funny, sensitive and always positive.”<br /><br />Film and fashion photographer Atul Kasbekar tweeted, “My Guru n Mentor, Gautam Rajadhyaksha passed away this morning. My principal influence n a truly wonderful, gentle, kind n talented man.”</p>
