Vogue India and Priyanka Chopra: A Memorable Shoot in Montréal
On February 7, 2016, I filmed Priyanka Chopra in Montréal for Vogue India. The video accompanied the photo shoot for the magazine’s April cover. In my early years as an independent filmmaker, this opportunity to create for an international publication already held a special place.
My assignment was to film behind the scenes and an interview with Priyanka, then edit the video. The project combined two registers: fashion footage captured while she posed for Chris Craymer’s camera and answers to a series of short questions. My work was on video; the magazine photographs were produced by its photography team.
The day after filming, I wrote to Ishita Bahadur about how much I’d enjoyed the day and the team’s welcome. The interview had taken place at the end of the session. Together with the team, including Priyanka Kapadia, we selected eight questions to make the most of the available time. That choice would also give the edit its thread.
The work continued in Montréal, in remote collaboration with Ishita Bahadur and Mehek Azmathulla at Condé Nast India. After a first version in February, we refined the edit in March: music, rhythm, typography and integrating the cover. A short fifteen-second version was also prepared for Instagram.
Vogue India published the video on March 30, 2016 under the title What’s Priyanka Chopra’s Biggest Fear? Exclusive Photoshoot & Interview. Seeing the work come together, with my name in the video credit, remains a fond memory of that stage of my career.
What comes back to me today is both the project’s scale and the pleasure of the collaboration. My messages from that time show my enthusiasm, from preparation through the final versions. It’s one of those shoots that earns a lasting place in memories of the early years.
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