Legendary Cinematographer Ashok Mehta’s Life to Be Featured in Amit Ashar’s Coffee Table Book
Ace still photographer Amit Ashar is documenting the extraordinary life and artistic legacy of legendary cinematographer Ashok Mehta in an upcoming coffee table book. Developed over the past year, this tribute chronicles Mehta’s phenomenal career through a curated collection of behind-the-scenes photographs captured by Ashar across more than three decades.
Scheduled for release in late 2026, the volume presents unseen, intimate images alongside personal essays from renowned Indian filmmakers and actors who collaborated closely with Mehta. Together, the visual and written contributions highlight his lasting impact on Indian cinema and his innovative approach to visual storytelling.
Mehta’s trajectory remains one of the most inspiring stories in Indian film history. Starting his career as a canteen boy and camera runner, he rose through determination to become a National Award-winning cinematographer and one of the industry’s highest-paid technicians. Known for bridging parallel art cinema and mainstream commercial entertainment, Mehta defined the visual identity of classic films across genres. His distinguished filmography includes Aparna Sen’s 36 Chowringhee Lane (1981), Shyam Benegal’s Mandi (1983), Girish Karnad’s Utsav (1984), Gulzar’s Ijaazat (1987), Subhash Ghai’s Ram Lakhan (1989), and Shekhar Kapur’s Bandit Queen (1994).
For Amit Ashar, the project is a deeply personal endeavor. Mehta served as his long-time mentor, guide, and close friend. Over 30 years, Ashar documented Mehta in his element across diverse film sets, preserving moments of creative intensity and candid camaraderie. The forthcoming book acts as an archive, celebrating both famous milestones and lesser-seen personal moments from the cinematographer’s journey.
By capturing the craftsmanship behind the lens, the coffee table book honors a visionary who transformed Indian cinematography, offering film enthusiasts and future generations a rare look into the life of a master technician.
