01 May,2026 04:59 PM IST | Mumbai | Nandini Shah
Rihanna at Antilia. Pic/Himanshu Patel
In an exclusive conversation with mid-day, celebrity photographer Himanshu Patel, founder of Epic Stories, reflects on capturing moments from Rihanna's lunch with the Ambanis. During her trip to Mumbai last week, the singer was invited to Antilia for a grand lunch, filled with art, dance and culture. Himanshu opens up about what unfolded behind the scenes.
Himanshu Patel's photos capture the superstar engaged in Indian customs, participating in rituals like aarti and enthusiastically playing phoolon ki holi with vibrant rose and marigold flowers.
Talking about what Himanshu looks for while documenting the rituals, he said his focus is on "the hands, the eyes, the small reactions," the subtle reactions and fleeting moments in between are what give the images depth.
"In rituals like aarti and phoolon ki holi, the big visuals take care of themselves, the flames, the petals, the colour. What we're really chasing is the in-between: the way someone closes their eyes during aarti, the half-second of laughter when a flower lands somewhere unexpected, the quiet pause before a tradition begins. Those are the frames that turn an event into a story."
Reflecting on his favourite photo, he says, "There is a frame from phoolon ki holi where Rihanna playfully threw flowers right onto my camera lens, and that image has travelled far beyond what we expected. But for me, the essence lives in the quieter frames around it, the moments before and after, where the joy was unguarded. That's what we'll remember."
Despite being unfamiliar with the culture, she was completely engrossed and trying to observe.
"We saw her receiving the experience with real warmth and openness. Indian traditions have a way of inviting you in, the music, the flowers, the food, the rhythm of it all, and she responded to that generously."
Himanshu, who previously captured Radhika Merchant-Anant Ambani's wedding, said that documenting the lunch was easy due to Rihanna's comfort in front of the camera. He says, "Rihanna was incredibly generous with us throughout the day. There were many moments where she smiled at our cameras and let us in."
"Any setting where someone feels at ease is a gift to a photographer. When the environment is warm, when the hosts are gracious, when the rituals are unfolding naturally, the camera almost disappears. The day offered joy, curiosity, and a lot of beauty, which came through because everyone in the room, Rihanna included, was genuinely enjoying themselves."
When asked if he was able to observe and capture a different side of the singer from her public persona, Himanshu offers a thoughtful perspective.
"I wouldn't frame it as different from her public self. I'd just say that any time someone is genuinely enjoying themselves, in a setting where they feel welcomed, you get to see them at ease. That ease is what we try to capture in every shoot, with every subject. It's not about catching a different version of someone, it's about being present when someone is fully themselves."
