EXCLUSIVE: ‘Puzzled’ Avinash Gowariker REVEALS Aamir Khan’s Chaotic Idea Behind Dangal Poster; Says, “How Can All Of Them Be In The Same Frame?”

Avinash Gowariker is a renowned photographer celebrated for his work in celebrity and advertising photography, particularly within the Bollywood industry. He started his career as an assistant director and has worked with Aamir Khan, Salman Khan, Shah Rukh Khan, Aishwarya Rai, Deepika Padukone and others. In an exclusive interview with Bollywood Bubble, Avinash Gowariker reveals the idea behind Aamir Khan’s Dangal poster with Fatima Sana Shaikh and Sanya Malhotra.

Avinash Gowariker Recalls Aamir Khan’s Idea Behind Dangal Poster

When asked about working with someone who is a perfectionist like Aamir Khan, Avinash Gowariker said, “The Dangal poster was actually an answer to a creative challenge. I went to Ludhiana to shoot it—Aamir had called and said, ‘Come and shoot here.’ I agreed, knowing the rough storyline of Dangal. The next morning, we were to begin shooting at seven. I arrived with my camera, lights, and everything ready.”

He added, “Now, Aamir sits down, and beside him are both the young and older versions of Geeta and Babita. Four people in total. I was puzzled: how can all of them be in the same frame? That’s not how the film is structured. Fatima and Sanya (the older versions) and the younger Geeta-Babita are never seen together in the movie. Technically, it’s a wrong poster because, narratively, these characters don’t coexist in the same timeline within the film.”

Gowariker concluded, “But Aamir and the team were very clear about the concept. He said, ‘It’s not about chronology or logic. The film is about the relationship between the father and these four versions of his daughters. Young Geeta is a character. Older Geeta is also a character. It’s about my relationship with all of them.’ That level of conceptual thinking was beyond me at the time. I kept wondering, How will I ever shoot this in a way that works? But interestingly, no one has ever questioned that poster—it just worked.”

Watch The Full Interview

Also Read: EXCLUSIVE: Avinash Gowariker Recalls How He Became Shah Rukh Khan’s Family Photographer Despite SRK Having ‘Favourites’ Already; Shares, “From That Point On…”