Taxi driver becomes fashion photographer

Here's the inspiring story of Zahir Abbas Khan, who moved from driving tourists to Goa to shooting the likes of Amitabh Bachchan

Most of us the middle class would rather chill at home between jobs than work as drivers. But Zahir Abbas Khan did the exact opposite and ended up becoming a known name in Bollywood, snapping bigwigs like Amitabh and Jaya Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Ranbir Kapoor, Juhi Chawla and Ayesha Takia.

But his life wasn't always this glamorous.

Zahir used to work as a driver for a travel company, ferrying tourists to and from Goa. This experience, he says, taught him never to belittle any kind of work. "It never matters what kind of work you do. What matters most is that you continue working and not sit idle," says the 24-year-old fashion photographer.

With Subi Samuel
Before working as a driver, Zahir had his first brush with fashion when he got a job as photographer Subi Samuel's assistant nine years ago. "Working for Samuel happened by chance, as a friend of mine was working for him. My friend spoke to him and I was hired," says Zahir.

Zahir worked with Samuel for almost a year. A while after he quit, Zahir started work for designer Ashley Rebello. Explaining how important it is to keep working and not waste time, he says, "I thought it's better to earn Rs 3,000 to Rs 4,000 a month than sit at home."

Zahir recalls how nicely he was treated not only by the designer, but his family too. "When I wanted to leave my job, Ashley and his mother tried to convince me not to do so because I was a punctual employee. I would reach his home by 8:30 am, if I was called at 9 am," he says.

Driving for Rebello gave Zahir confidence and he then joined the travel company.

Six months into that job, Zahir decided that a fashion photographer was what he wanted to be. So, with Samuel's contacts, Zahir soon started working for photographers Munna S and Abhay Singh before establishing himself as a freelance photographer.

And the rest, as they say, is history.