SHOOTING WITH BEST FOOTBALL PLAYER OF WORLD WAS A MOMENT OF PRIDE FOR ME

SHOOTING WITH BEST FOOTBALL PLAYER

OF WORLD WAS A MOMENT OF PRIDE FOR ME

While watching Andres Iniesta on TV, I would often wonder if I would ever get a chance to see him play live in a stadium. But like they say miracle happens and so it happened one day. When I was amidst one of Kailash Kher’s interview’s I got a call from Delhi based entrepreneur Rajbir Singh. He said, “I want to give you the biggest surprise of your life!” I was taken aback with his words. 

Rajbir continued, “I want you to go to Barcelona, Spain to shoot a calendar for my company. The theme of which will be Sports, Wine and Glamour. Who will be the female model for the shoot will be your choice but male model has been chosen by me and you know this chap very well” On inquiring who the male model is, Rajbir’s words still ring in my ears. Words slurred out of his mouth in slow motion, “ANDRES INIESTA!”

There was utter silence for a while but when I recovered I let out a joy filled scream, “Are you kidding me?” I said, “Well, whoa off course I know him. You are talking about “The Andres Iniesta”, World’s best football player I have always wanted to see him play live”. After having a satisfying laugh of having bowled me over with this news, Rajbir said, “Pack your bags mate”, you will be shooting with Andres for half a day for the calendar and video. The phone went silent after goodbyes and good days but I could feel adrenaline rush and my heart was in my mouth. My mind drifted back and forth over the conversation I just had. I could not fathom the feeling I had at that point of time.

The shoot was scheduled for 9th January in Barcelona. We were in search of model for the shoot and I found “Balma girl” Claudia Ciesla suitable for the shoot.

Right from the start till the end there were several issues that arose which made me feel that the shoot might not take place. 

My photographer Umesh from Delhi - India did not get Visa which became a major concern for us. We had all the supporting documents including a letter of invitation from Andres Iniesta's company but in spite of that the visa was not granted, even we came back after shoot and 15 days passed but his passport was still in the embassy.

Though I got the Visa within 2 days in Mumbai yet I had new problem to tackle which was to find a good photographer in Barcelona. Finding a “good” photographer in an alien country was indeed a challenge. Till evening hours of 8th January when I could assign no photographer from Spain I rang up my Mumbai office and asked them to find Barcelona’s professional photographers and mail me the addresses and contact details. Within 15 minutes I got a list of photographers, I contacted 4 of them but finally gave preference to Tom Hayton, an English photographer who was in Barcelona that time. Tom topped my list as he was the only one who knew English. On the night of 8th January, I finalized my photographer and also the time for the shoot.

The time was set from 1 PM to 2 PM by Barcelona time by Andres Iniesta. I was given an hour’s time to complete a 12 month calendar. Although Tom assured me that all will be done without any hassles yet I was a bit tensed.

At the dawn of 9th January when we woke up at 5 AM we were excited enough looking forward to meet Andres. We would be shooting solos of Claudia from 10 Am to 12 noon and so had to reach Tom’s studio by 8 Am. Once done with the solos we reached our Hotel at 12:30 Pm. At 1pm when Andres was to arrive I sent a local boy to receive Andres.

Adding to my worries was the venue. We were staying at a 4 star hotel and thought that Andres might not shoot in such a small hotel. When the elevator’s door opened, 3 people came out. Since it was unlikely that a celeb would arrive without any securities, bouncers, friends or family, as it is usually practiced in India, I thought the hotel guests were coming out of the elevator but I was wrong. The 3 people who came out of the elevator were my guests. Andres was there standing in front of me without any security.

When our Spain contact Irvin introduced me to Andres saying ‘he is Harish Sharma who’d be directing you for this calendar photo shoot and video, Andres held my hand and said yes I know that, I told him “Sir, it was a dream come true to meet you, “Andres smiled and said, “Thanks, but my English Poor”. That was yet another moment when I felt how humble this international star was. Irvin acted as interpreter and explained Andres what I said. Hearing that Andres hugged me and asked me if I liked Madrid or Barcelona?

When I said of course “Barcelona” and my favorite player is you, Andres smiled and said, “Great”.
Since Spanish was difficult for me to understand and English was a problem for Andres, Irvin helped us out to overcome the language barrier and became our interpreter for the day for that I am thankful to Irwin.

After some chatting with Andres we began the shoot. Andres asked me what was to be done and after I guided him and Tom with the situations we proceeded with the photo shoot and video.

In midst of the shoot I continued interviewing Andres through Irvin. When I asked Andres if he knew anything about India he said, “He was in awe of India’s rich culture, Taj Mahal, and Shah Rukh Khan, the don”
I also invited Andres to India but due to his busy schedule he declined but on requesting if he could find some time for at least 2 days he smiled and said “Let me plan the visit in holidays.”

During the shoot Rajbir Singh, specially called me up from Delhi to say hello to Andres and I gave the mobile to Andres but due to language problem talks were not too long. We wanted to shoot with Andres wearing T shirt of Aska Beverage and he promptly said yes and not only did he change the T shirt but also gave us the opportunity to shoot him while he showed us his skills with the ball.

Our shoot went on for at least 2 hours and there were no breaks in between not even water, still no tantrum by Andres the world’s best footballer,In between the shoot we had engaged him for autograph on T Shirts, caps, books, but the sportsman that he is, he simply smiled and gave autographs.

We had more than 2000 photos and I knew that I have got best pictures for the calendar, finally I thanked Andres for his valuable time and humbleness and once again invited him to India and then he moved towards the lift but turned back and gave me his mobile and requested me to click a picture with Claudia for his private collection, and Claudia was flying high on the seventh sky.

He left the hotel with his father and Manager. After packing up I went to the nearby shop, which was run by a Pakistani to buy some mementos for home and friends, from the same shop I bought the T shirts and caps for autograph last evening. Today the shopkeeper asked me you bought lots of Barcelona T shirts and caps, you have any music video shoot, I said no but we had a shooting with Andres Iniesta, he said what are you saying why didn’t you tell me this yesterday. I would have given you all the stuff free of cost if you would have just given me one of his autographed T shirt, which I would have framed in my shop, I said sorry bro. However I promised I will get him his original photograph with autograph.

Next morning we had flight to India and Claudia was tired so slept around 8pm, next morning when she woke up she had a sms from Andres Manager Joel that Andres wants to give you a gift let me confirm where I can send that, but we had a flight at 10am so she did not receive the gift.

We reached Mumbai at 5 am, had a flight to Delhi at 3pm to deliver the pictures to Rajbir Singh as time was very short to release the calendar in 1st week of February.

I have to still pinch myself to realize that I was not dreaming but it was actually Andres Iniesta.