Winters had cast their magical spell over Bengaluru when one fine morning Rashmika and I were on our way to the city's outskirts. We were headed to a picturesque farmhouse with a sunflower field in its backyard to click some vibrant and dreamy fashion portraits. As we paced away from the concrete jungle, the sky opened up to us in puffs of cottony clouds and the first hints of daylight. Soon enough, we approached our first location. As we made our way through a field painted with bright yellow and deep green, the sunflowers leaned in to convey their warm greetings. The joy in me grew with each step we took, as it was a long-standing dream of mine to shoot in an unending sea of sunflowers while mixing natural and artificial lights to create dramatic imagery. And so, it all unfurled. Rashmika graced my frames with sheer elegance and a fiery look in her eyes. The silver, magenta, and green in her silken saree shimmered under the lights, while her ornate jewellery adorned her demeanour with even more beauty.

With an enchanting start to the morning, we were only bracing for more stories to unfurl. So bidding goodbye to the sprightly sunflowers, we made our way to the quaint farmhouse adjacent to the field. The big wooden doors of this dainty home brought in the chatter of birds, mud-scented breezes, and mellow sunlight. And while the house was plain, sparing a few wooden doors and windows, we brought bundles of marigolds and roses to light up the day and the mood. Before we knew it, Rashmika was comfy in the farmhouse's earthy front yard, cladding contrasting pink and blue hues on her pearly skin. And then, right before the time came to part ways, we went ahead with the final look for the day. A poise Rashmika graced the farmhouse’s foyer wearing an earthy red and brown saree, holding many stories in her longing eyes. Soon enough, we bid goodbye with a bright smile on our faces, content and elated with the events of the day and the stories we spun out of it.

The fondest memory I have from this shoot is that of whipping up magic on the go. Packed as we were with our schedules, Rashmika and I had little time to plan and choreograph this shoot. It was a beautiful experience to shoot with our intuitions, discovering creative angles and storylines as we explored. This shoot reiterates my belief that wonders happen when two artists meet. After all, art always finds a way of blooming beautiful when in the right hands.