Photographer Ketaki Sheth’s Candid Glimpses of Bollywood Sets in the 1980s and 1990s

Ketaki Sheth’s latest collection, ‘Flashback’, offers a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into Bollywood and Tamil film sets between 1985 and 1993. Featuring 57 black-and-white photographs, the series captures both the glamour and the chaotic ordinariness of film production. Sheth’s images include iconic actors like Rekha, Poonam Dhillon, Aamir Khan, Smita Patil, and Karisma Kapoor, portraying them in candid, unposed moments as well as during scenes. Beyond the stars, the photographs highlight technicians, background artists, and the bustling activity that goes unnoticed in traditional media coverage. The work also explores domestic spaces, showing actors in their personal environments, adding a sense of intimacy and everyday life to the narrative. Shooting on film, Sheth emphasised precision and patience, capturing fleeting moments that reveal new interpretations of the cinematic world. The collection, curated by Devika Daulet-Singh and shown in Delhi, demonstrates Sheth’s focus on composition, perspective, and storytelling beyond mere representation, reflecting both artistry and empathy. Her work reminds viewers that behind the sheen of stardom lies a vibrant, often chaotic world that is equally compelling.