Abhishek Gandhi, the cinematographer of Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha… Season 2 on Colors, is the one who brings the best out of an actor on camera and delivers it to your TV screen. His lighting techniques can make any character look positive or negative as his camera captures the magic you see on television. While on the sets of Na Bole Tum..Tellychakkar.com sits across the cinematographer for a candid interview. A low down: Tell us something about yourself? (smiles) Well, how should I put this? I am a National athlete and was very much into sports from my school days. Then, after not getting any proper dimension in sports, I tried my luck at cinematography as I have seen my elder brother Hrishikesh Gandhi grow in this very field. Having started as an assistant, I later started working independently. The person whom I looked up to then and, respect even today for giving me the knowledge of photography, is Barun Mukherjee. I have been in this industry since the last nine years and in these many years I have done shows like Miley Jab Hum Tum, Iss Pyaar Ko Kya Naam Doon, Geet, Humse Hai Life, Surveen Guggal, Buddy Project and now Na Bole Tum Na Maine Kuch Kaha…Season 2 on Colors. How has your journey been so far? As an athlete, I was physically very active and smart but cinematography is something in which you need to be technically sound and active every single moment. So, for me, the transition from physicality to technicality was difficult to begin with, but later with everyday shoot, I grew in my work and explored my potential in the correct manner. It was a drastic change in my life having to live on schedules. In sports, one has to work for a certain period, but in television you need to work every day with deadlines staring at you. So, it has been amazing so far with lots of ups and downs. What is the difference between cinematography on small screen and the big screen? In films, you get lot of time; moreover you have the whole story concept ready on your hand well before you start working, but on television, you have to work on a daily basis. Both are almost the same in terms of photography, the only difference is that as a cinematographer, one can experiment a lot in films but in television, one has to work in the well-designed plot. Which among the lights do you prefer; the artificial or natural? I always prefer natural lighting, because as a photographer, one can explore himself more in natural lighting. Whenever I get a chance, I always prefer natural lights because artificial lighting gets limited after a certain extent. Which shot do you consider to be your best one till date? Well we had done a song sequence in The Buddy Project on the Mein Sharabi track from the film Cocktail and in Na Bole… Season 2, we did a sequence on Challa from Jab Tak Hai Jaan. They have been my best shots so far. In which show have you grown as a cinematographer? Well, I would say they are Miley Jab Hum Tum and Geet. Which actor would you like to capture by your camera? Deepika Padukone. How has the industry changed over the years? Technically, if you see, then the industry has changed a lot throughout by making work easier and adaptable. Nowadays, since we have to shoot in HD, you need to look after every minute detailing so that there is no problem at the time of telecast. What advice would you like to give to aspiring cinematographers? Well, be focused, keep your eyes and ears open every minute. Have a good presence of mind and try to observe and learn different changes happening around you and come up with new ideas. I believe since practical knowledge is very powerful than theory, every photographer learns more on the set than in a class room. What are your future plans? Well, there is nothing as such but will stay with television for a certain period of time and will also try and do films if I get a good offer in which I can explore myself.