She wanted to be an architect but became a photojournalist in Mumbai. For Meenal Agarwal, 52, now a production designer, it was her interest in narrative photography that led her to explore backgrounds. She then worked in advertising before deciding to return to photography. But the world of photography had changed by then: the Digital had arrived. In the meanwhile, Agarwal had married Rajat Kapoor, an actor and director, and also had a daughter. At the time, Kapoor was making Raghu Romeo, and Agarwal became a continuity photographer.
바카라I didn바카라t think I바카라d give up on photography,바카라 she says.
But by this time, she had been out in the world, and when she saw the film바카라s sets, she started suggesting a few changes and a few additions, one of which came from a house that she had seen in rural Maharashtra where the ceilings were covered in gift paper. Thus began her interest in production design. Later, Kapoor tried to rope her in as the production designer for Mithya, a film that released in 2008. But that did not work out as planned.
Then, Mixed Doubles came along.
Agarwal is now an established production designer and is known for her work in Ankhon Dekhi (2013), Pari (2018) and Dum Laga Ke Haisha (2015).
In her workspace in Bandra, there is a medley of things that were used in various films. Like an old high backed bench and a chandelier that hangs in the doorway. For her, it was also important to break free from being known as 바카라the wife of Rajat Kapoor바카라 which meant having to deal with a lot of egotistic people.
바카라Production design is storytelling except you get to control things. You do it subliminally. Even though it is a very important part of storytelling, it isn바카라t respected enough still,바카라 she says. For instance, even in the hierarchy of vanity vans, production designers still don바카라t have access to it.
바카라I hope it gets the respect it deserves,바카라 she says.
(This appeared in the print edition as "Finding Her Calling")
