Atul Kasbekar | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 22 April 1965 Mumbai, India |
| Alma mater | Brooks Institute, Santa Barbara, US |
| Occupation | Photographer |
| Years active | 1991–present [1] |
| Known for | Fashion photography |
| Notable work | Kingfisher Calendar |
| Website | www |
Atul Kasbekar (born 22 April 1965) [2] is an Indian fashion photographer, recognised for his Kingfisher Calendar shoots. He owns Bling! Entertainment Solutions and Corporate Image, and is a Bollywood film producer through partnership in Ellipsis Entertainment.
Atul Kasbekar was born in Mumbai, where he studied at Campion School [2] and Jai Hind College (University of Mumbai). [3] Then he joined UDCT (now Institute of Chemical Technology), Mumbai for chemical engineering but dropped out in his second year to become a photographer, [4] [5] after seeking out Gautam Rajadhyaksha for advice. [6] He graduated from the Brooks Institute in Santa Barbara, US. [1] [7] In Los Angeles, he worked as a trainee with photographers including Dennis Gray, Ron Slenzak, James B Wood, Jay Silverman, Jay P Morgan, Bill Werts and David Le Bon. [4]
Kasbekar returned to India in 1990. In 1991 he began his professional career as a photographer by starting a studio named Negative Space. [1] He names commercial assignments for Vadilal and at Lintas advertising as having launched his career. [5]
Kasbekar is known for shooting the Kingfisher Calendar, featuring models clad in swimsuits, [7] some of whom went on to successful acting careers. [4]
In 2006, Kasbekar started Corporate Image, an identity and image management company for organisations. [8]
He is also the frontman of celebrity management company Bling! Entertainment Solutions, [3] [9] which started in 2007. [10]
Kasbekar has co-produced Bollywood films including Neerja (2016), [11] [12] Tumhari Sulu (2017), [13] Why Cheat India (2019), [14] and Looop Lapeta (2022). [15] He formed production company Ellipsis Entertainment with Tanuj Garg in 2016. [15] [16]
Kasbekar and Vijay Mallya of UB Group won for the Kingfisher Calendar at the 2004 International Food and Beverage Creative Excellence Awards, and again in 2005, when they were the only Indian awardees. [17]
He has served as honorary chairman of the Photographer's Guild of India. [1] [7]
Kasbekar and his wife Vandana have twin children, Arnav Kasbekar and Naomi Kasbekar. [2] [3]
Gautam Rajadhyaksha was one of India's leading fashion photographers, and was based in Mumbai, India. He was one of India's best known celebrity portraitists, having photographed almost all the icons of the Indian film industry.
Preeti Desai is a British film and television actress, model, and former Miss Great Britain. She made history by becoming the first woman of Indian descent to win the title in 2006.
Force is a 2011 Indian Hindi-language action thriller film directed by Nishikant Kamat. The film stars John Abraham, Vidyut Jammwal and Genelia D'Souza in the lead roles, with Raj Babbar, Mukesh Rishi, Mohnish Bahl and Kamlesh Sawant appearing in supporting roles. It is a remake of 2003 Tamil film Kaakha Kaakha.
Shaurya Chauhan is an Indian model, actress and TV host. She was one of the Kingfisher Calendar Girls for 2006. She appeared as an antagonist to Hrithik Roshan's character in Krrish 3.
The Kingfisher Calendar was an annual calendar featuring models in swimsuits published by the Indian conglomerate United Breweries Group for 19 years from 2003 to 2021. Described by Rediff as "arguably the most prestigious modelling assignment in India", it was credited with advancing the careers of models and actresses like Katrina Kaif, Deepika Padukone, Yana Gupta, Sonali Raut, Ujjwala Raut, Nargis Fakhri, Bruna Abdullah, Deepti Gujral, Lisa Haydon, Aishwarya Sushmita and Angela Jonsson. Photographer Atul Kasbekar has been associated with the calendar since its inception in 2003 till its final issue in 2021. Kasbekar along with Vijay Mallya are credited with the idea of creating the annual Kingfisher Calendar.
Vikram Bawa is an Indian fashion, advertising and landscape photographer based in Mumbai. He was the first Indian photographer to promote and showcase 3D photography in the late 1990s.
Tarun Khiwal is an Indian fashion and commercial photographer. An engineer by education, he left his first job in 1989, and apprenticed with photographers, Hardev Singh, Prabuddha Dasgupta and Atul Kasbekar, before starting out on his own in 1995.
Miss Diva was introduced by Femina to select a candidate to represent the country at Miss Universe.
Sonali Raut is an Indian actress and model who appears in Hindi films. She has been a Kingfisher Calendar Girl since 2010, and was 19 when she featured in the annual calendar. Raut made her acting debut with romantic-thriller film The Xpose in 2014 opposite Himesh Reshammiya and Yo Yo Honey Singh in a lead role. She was a contestant in the reality television show Bigg Boss 8.
Tahir Raj Bhasin is an Indian actor who works in Hindi films. Born in Delhi, he holds a master's degree in media from the University of Melbourne. Bhasin made his screen debut with Kismat Love Paisa Dilli (2012) and made brief appearances in Kai Po Che! (2013) and One by Two (2014).
Calendar Girls is a 2015 Indian Hindi-language drama film directed by Madhur Bhandarkar and co-produced by Sangeeta Ahir and Bhandarkar Entertainment. Akanksha Puri played the main female lead role. The film's music was composed by Meet Bros Anjjan and Amaal Mallik. The film was released on 25 September 2015. According to Bhandarkar, the story of Calendar Girls is 75% reality and 25% fiction.
Neerja is a 2016 Indian Hindi-language biographical thriller film directed by Ram Madhvani and written by Saiwyn Quadras and Sanyuktha Chawla Shaikh. It was produced by Atul Kasbekar's company, Bling Unplugged, alongside Fox Star Studios. The film stars Sonam Kapoor as the eponymous lead, with Shekhar Ravjiani, Shabana Azmi, Yogendra Tiku, Kavi Shastri and Jim Sarbh in supporting roles.
Malishka Mendonsa, popularly known as RJ Malishka, is an Indian radio personality. She participated in the YouTube Originals series Pretty Fit hosted by Prajakta Koli. Malishka hosts Morning No. 1 with Malishka on the Red FM 93.5 radio station.
Jim Sarbh is an Indian actor known for his work in films and stage productions. He has received several awards including a Filmfare OTT Award, and an IIFA Award with a nomination for an International Emmy Award. Additionally, he has directed and acted in numerous theatre productions in India.
Tumhari Sulu is a 2017 Indian Hindi-language comedy-drama film written and directed by Suresh Triveni and produced by Bhushan Kumar, Tanuj Garg, Krishan Kumar, Atul Kasbekar and Shanti Sivaram Maini under the banners of T-Series and Ellipsis Entertainment.
Saiwyn Quadras is an Indian screenwriter, who has written the biopics Mary Kom (2014), Neerja (2016) and Maidaan (2024). He was also the writer of Parmanu: The Story of Pokhran (2018).
Top Model India, season 1 was the first installment of Top Model India. The series premiered on Colors Infinity on 4 February 2018 at 8:00 pm IST (UTC+5:30). Sixteen finalists were chosen to compete for the show.
Looop Lapeta is a 2022 Indian Hindi-language comedy-thriller film directed by Aakash Bhatia and jointly produced by Sony Pictures Films India, Ellipsis Entertainment and Aayush Maheshwari. An official adaptation of the award-winning German film Run Lola Run by Tom Tykwer, the film stars Taapsee Pannu and Tahir Raj Bhasin in the lead roles. The film premiered on 4 February 2022 on Netflix.
Do Aur Do Pyaar is a 2024 Indian Hindi-language romantic comedy film directed by Shirsha Guha Thakurta, in her directorial debut and produced by Sameer Nair, Deepak Segal, Tanuj Garg, Atul Kasbekar and Swati Iyer Chawla under the banner Applause Entertainment and Ellipsis Entertainment Production. It features Vidya Balan, Pratik Gandhi, Ileana D'Cruz and Sendhil Ramamurthy.
Media related to Atul Kasbekar at Wikimedia Commons