Shah Rukh Khan's 90% photoshoots at Mannat: Daboo Ratnani reveals
Synopsis
Daboo Ratnani's revelation that nearly 90% of his iconic Shah Rukh Khan photographs were shot inside Mannat reframes what fans thought they knew about those images — the superstar's home, not a studio, was the real set all along.
Key Takeaways
Daboo Ratnani revealed that 90% of his photoshoots with Shah Rukh Khan took place at Khan's residence, Mannat .
The disclosure was made on Pooja Bhatt 's podcast on 30 May .
During a studio visit, Ratnani photographed Khan playing with his dog Flash at his Oshiwara studio, prioritising candid moments over posed shots.
A chance encounter at a tyre repair shop inspired a set built from 200 used tyres at Mehboob Studio .
Ratnani's annual calendar features 24 celebrities and has included Amitabh Bachchan , Aishwarya Rai Bachchan , and Abhishek Bachchan , among others.
Celebrated celebrity photographer Daboo Ratnani has revealed that nearly 90 percent of his photoshoots with superstar Shah Rukh Khan were conducted at the actor's iconic Mumbai residence, Mannat. Ratnani shared the candid disclosure during an appearance on filmmaker-actress Pooja Bhatt's podcast, offering a rare peek into one of Bollywood's most enduring creative partnerships.
The Mannat Connection
Ratnani explained that working within Shah Rukh's home environment was key to capturing the superstar at his most natural. 'With Shah Rukh, I've done 90% of my shoots in his house,' the photographer said. The comfort of familiar surroundings, he noted, allowed Khan to shed the self-consciousness that often accompanies formal studio sessions.
Pooja Bhatt acknowledged the dynamic, telling Ratnani: 'You've really made Shah Rukh look very sexy. There's something that he sheds with you.' The remark points to a creative trust that Ratnani has cultivated with Khan over years of collaboration.
The Studio Session with Flash
On one occasion when Khan did visit Ratnani's studio in Oshiwara, the photographer chose to let the moment unfold organically. Khan arrived and began playing with Ratnani's pet dog, Flash, prompting the photographer to capture those unscripted interactions rather than directing formal poses.
'When he came to my studio in Oshiwara, he was playing with Flash, with my doggy. And I took pictures of that. So he started enjoying that moment rather than posing for a picture. During his phases of whatever look he was in, I used to pull out a concept as per that,' Ratnani recalled.
The Tyre Set That Started at a Repair Shop
Ratnani also recounted how an everyday errand inspired one of his most distinctive set designs. A chance visit to a tyre shop — where he spotted used tyres being loaded onto a tempo — sparked the idea for an elaborate backdrop assembled from 200 discarded tyres at Mehboob Studio.
'I was literally getting my tyre change done at the tyre shop. And there was a guy who was chucking these used tyres into a tempo. I said, wow, man, what a backdrop. And I contacted the tyre shop and got those 200 tyres to Mehboob studio, created that whole set with those ripped tyres and everything and did that shot,' he said.
Ratnani's Calendar Legacy
Daboo Ratnani is widely recognised for his annual celebrity calendar, which features 24 prominent personalities each year. Over the decades, he has photographed some of Bollywood's biggest names, including Amitabh Bachchan, Bipasha Basu, Arjun Rampal, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Abhishek Bachchan. His long-standing association with Shah Rukh Khan remains among the most celebrated in the Indian entertainment photography space, with the candid, home-based approach clearly central to its success.
Point of View
A living room did the work. The candid-over-composed philosophy he describes with Shah Rukh Khan also explains why those photographs have aged better than most Bollywood promotional imagery of the same era. What is less examined is how the home-shoot dynamic shapes power in the photographer-subject relationship: when the subject controls the location, the photographer must adapt rather than direct, which is precisely the creative tension Ratnani seems to have turned into a signature.
NationPress
16 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Where did Daboo Ratnani shoot most of his photos with Shah Rukh Khan?
According to Ratnani, nearly 90% of his photoshoots with Shah Rukh Khan were conducted at Khan's Mumbai residence, Mannat, rather than in a formal studio setting. He revealed this on Pooja Bhatt's podcast on 30 May.
What did Daboo Ratnani say about photographing Shah Rukh Khan?
Ratnani said that Khan's candid, unposed moments produced his most memorable photographs. He recalled letting Khan play with his dog Flash during a studio visit and capturing those natural interactions instead of directing formal poses.
What is the story behind Daboo Ratnani's tyre set photoshoot?
Ratnani was at a tyre repair shop when he noticed used tyres being loaded onto a vehicle and was struck by their visual potential. He sourced 200 of those tyres and constructed an elaborate set at Mehboob Studio for the shoot.
Who are some of the celebrities Daboo Ratnani has photographed for his annual calendar?
Ratnani's annual calendar, which features 24 celebrities each year, has included Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Bipasha Basu, Arjun Rampal, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and Abhishek Bachchan, among others.
Where did Daboo Ratnani share these behind-the-scenes stories?
He shared the anecdotes during an appearance on filmmaker-actress Pooja Bhatt's podcast, which was reported on 30 May.
