SHOOTING SUSHMITA SEN

 

It's a sunny Tuesday afternoon and the quiet studio in Versova seems unassuming and ordinary. Inside, history is about to be made as one of the most beautiful personalities to grace the silver screen is about to weave a web of glamour, class and unbound passion.

 

At 2pm sharp, Sushmita Sen arrives at the studio of Subi Samuel. Wearing a body hugging black dress and a smile that lit up all around her, she settles into the room which would witness her many metamorphisms in the next few hours. Looking a little nervous, Subi talks her through a few concepts and suggests a few new looks before she lets him know what she has in mind.

At 2:15 the designer and couturier extraordinaire, Reza Shariffi arrives sporting a white tee and blue denims, dragging with him a bag full of the day's costumes. The clock hits 2:30 and the oversized fans are set up for a blowing effect on Sushmita's hair, which is almost ready. The studio is already undergoing the transformation into the abode where the forthcoming photo shoot will take place and the air is thick with tension. I ask Shraddha, Reza's assistant, how she feels.
"It's as though we're at a board exam or something," she says, "it's so quiet and everyone's working so hard."
She's absolutely right as the atmosphere is writhing with a sense of anticipation similar to the feeling that something big is about to happen.
Sushmita's hair is done and work starts on her make-up and look, while Subi walks in and out of the studio, ensuring that all the equipment is set up as planned. Stealing a smile while looking a little anxious he turns to me and says: "I hope you're ready for this. It's going to be quite an experience." Nothing could have prepared me for the afternoon's shoot with Sushmita Sen.

It's 4:45 and Sushmita's make up is done. The simple ethereal princess has been transformed into a glamorous glowing queen before our eyes and is looking nothing short of stunning. The studio is set and she is raring to go and so begins the gruelling session which will immortalise the young beauty in a few pictures as she creates magic to everyone's delight in a manner no one is prepared for.

She walks into the studio and takes centre stage before the camera. As the music starts and the camera begins to click, she rises phoenix-like wearing a gold creation sensually draping her heavenly body. The dress which is her own, envelopes her in its mouth showing her off to the hilt, as the music plays on full volume. She transforms before everyone's eyes into a beacon of life with her body responding to every beat and her eyes dancing like fireflies to the rhythm resonating within the camera's cavern. She literally stuns everyone into silence displaying clearly how expertly she controls her look and is still not only one of the world's topmost models but with the emotion screaming within her eyes for escape, how she is an amazing actress also. Subi clicks furiously calling out to her to let her know how wonderful she is looking. The studio's lights illuminate her as the moon does the earth and in turn everyone else present basks in her glow and beauty, as the world stops and nothing is as important as the moment that is now, the moment Sushmita Sen is weaving her own magic before the camera, and Subi is framing every sensational shot.

Fans blow her hair back as with her mouth slightly open she looks deep within the camera, it is clear that without the fans cooling things down, the studio would be steaming with the passion she is giving off. Her hair open and a fire in her eyes, Sushmita Sen is a lethal cocktail of elegance, beauty and class, seducing the camera with her every breath, ensuring every time the shutter clicks a masterpiece is captured. Subi okays the first session giving the go-ahead to change, as he winds his camera and shouts orders to his assistants preparing for the next shot and the rest of us watch in awe at the supermodel who casually strolls out, ready for her costume change. Subi is a master of his domain. His command over still moments when life is in motion is breathtaking, as he knows exactly how he wants every backdrop, every light and every prop.

I turn to my pad to jot a few notes of what just happened, barely recovering from the tornado which just scooped us up into her world and left us gasping for more while drowning in her scorching eyes.

In no time it's 5:15pm and Sushmita walks in to the studio again, this time causing everyone's jaws to drop to the ground at what she's wearing. Chainmail armour adorns her with an ancient helmet crowning her head, allowing only a few tresses of her straight black hair to be seen. She carries a sword and is transformed completely from what she was minutes ago as we witness the birth of a Samurai warrior complete with a look which would send any army into retreat.

Wearing a black dhoti and giving the camera a piercing look, making it impossible to distinguish which is sharper - her eyes or the sword - she strikes what can only be described as deadly authentic poses. Her feet reflect a bold stance as each foot acts as a pivot for her body weight and she gives a daring battle-like look, as though she could have just run straight out of a Hollywood epic. The fans are off as everyone just stares at the costume which fits her to a tee, and wonder how Reza came up with such a masterpiece creation. She jumps into a series of majestic poses holding the sword above her head, between her eyes and handling it as if it was an extension of her body. I stare deep into the eyes which penetrate the camera lens and find myself lost in thoughts wondering whether she is about to be knighted or should I kneel before her seeking a knighthood.

The suit shows her like a true crusader, reflecting some of her personality as warriors wandering spirits dance around her as she cuts through them with ease. Her trusty blade of steel slices through the air with great dignity and her eyes show she is clearly ready for battle as well as victory. The spirits of King Arthur, Knights of the Round Table and Joan of Arc all prostrate before her, jousting in mid air before her eyes as she draws on the inspiration which must be from deep within, appearing like a mystery possessed.

 

"Awesome!" shouts Subi, as she gets on the ground stretching in every flexible direction and enacts a 'taandav' of her own, exorcising any demons which may haunt her. The armour hangs off her body as though it was made for her and in between every seven shots it is slightly readjusted by her team who ensure in every frame she is ready for battle. The room again turns into an awe-struck audience as our eyes drink from the golden gauntlet that is Sushmita, intoxicating us to a whole new level. Commanding attention with her every gaze, she poses in what can only be described as incarnations reflecting the epitome of a surviving warrior doing battle to avoid knightfall. Her helmet comes off as she looks at everyone's stunned faces and announces, "now we're really going to have some fun!" with a wicked smile, making you wonder if this Heavenly Angel could be the devil in disguise. She goes on to play with the sword, juggling it meticulously between poses which seem to be effortlessly executed and in perfect precision. She dazzles us with her swordplay which is being captured by the camera while flashing galaxies swirl within her eyes as the magic she weaves comes alive across the room.

In between shots I approach her, sensing the wizardry, and marvel at how she manages to do so much in a restricting costume. 'Is it heavy?' I ask, to which she shrugs and laughs, saying with a hint of sarcasm "Heavy? No!" trying to catch her breath, before flashing the sensational Sen smile my way and surprising us with her endless energy as she gets up announcing, "These will be the wacky ones now.!" And with that she launches into 20 different poses crouching and balancing while staying close to the ground, all while handling her armour, dhoti and accessories in a way which demands applause. Before the final shot of this second change is canned, she looks straight through the camera lens into Subi's soul, her eyes brimming with electricity, giving a look stating clearly that no matter how many battles she loses, the war she will win. Subi lets out an ecstatic scream, climaxing at the perfect shot and regains his breath as the next change begins.

6:30pm sees the beginning of the third costume's shoot and Subi is desperately fixing up the lighting for a series of close-ups. The side of his eyes are alive with passion as he smiles reassuringly when I ask if all shoots are like this one, which has stunned everyone present (and that consists of people who work on shoots everyday) to which he replies, "Only Sushmita's!" before asking his assistant to change the background to a green colour.

 

The tired faces show how much this particular photo shoot is sizzling with energy and draining everyone, except Sushmita who is all set for the next shot, walking into the studio in a black slinky dress. A few close-ups are taken before Reza adds a green choker to her neck excited at the Polaroid approval Subi promptly provides. The blower fans are again on and Sushmita looks up into the lens with a sensuality that would put Madonna to shame. Using her eyes to dance around every click and lips to pout at every given opportunity. Mesmerising with her every gaze, she focuses deep on the camera and photographer as Subi marvels at his muse's tenacity, beaming that his every shot is surpassing expectations. Gold drapes are added to the shot by Reza who ensures she is still looking fresh although her smile shows no sign of fading. Subi asks her to convey innocence and she looks up with eyes of a child, coming straight from the soul of the little girl who has been forced to grow up in a world she has conquered many times over. When asking for emotion it takes her just seconds to look into the camera misty-eyed, tears forming in each window to her soul and give a look which proves not only her amazing acting capabilities but also her ability to stir emotion in the hardest of hearts.

The shot okayed, she leaves to change for the next set of close-ups, leaving everyone tired and pondering where she gets the energy from, given her and Subi are performing the most difficult tasks. Emerging in a pink sequinned tube top, the close-ups are taken against a pink lit background which adds a unique effect to the pictures, and again he asks her to execute a rainbow of emotions. He suggests and experiments with a few shots involving cling-film wrapped around her shoulders before gasping with exhaustion and announcing
"OK, fantastic! Pack-up!" in a manner akin to a sonic boom ending the madness.
Sushmita walks back to change and the rest of us remain firmly rooted to the ground, in awe of the two geniuses who had scooped us up into their world for a day.

 

I had asked Subi prior to the sessions what his shoots were like and his reply was:
"They are all hard work, involving a lot of effort. But in all honesty, no shoot is like Sushmita's. She gives her all and it's like a whole new experience. After shooting with her you feel so satisfied and drained, nothing can prepare you for it."
He was right. Everyone was exhausted and witnessing a Sushmita Sen shoot is like going into the mouth of a volcano before you know it's about to erupt. It was now clear to see how this Miss Universe turned model turned actress had conquered every venture that had come her way: with pure, unbridled, sizzling passion. The cosmic energy she exuded is beyond words and the ease with which she conveyed the most soul-stirring of emotions and look so good only proved her limitless reservoir of acting talent and that it is true what they say: No one shoots like Sushmita Sen. It is an experience like no other.

Photographs: Subi Samuel
Outfits: Reza Shariffi

Fuad Omar