Munna S Thaakur, a renowned celebrity photographer with nearly 25 years of experience in the industry, recently spoke with DNA about his journey. He recounted his struggles and shared how he went from selling newspapers on the streets to becoming one of the leading photographers in Bollywood.

Starting his journey in Mumbai, Munna S Thaakur had no aspirations of working with celebrities. Originally from Akola, he arrived in Mumbai in the early 1990s and took on various odd jobs. Reflecting on his journey, Munna shares how he eventually became a photographer, thanks in part to the kindness of certain stars, and discusses the many people he has had the opportunity to work with.

Munna Thaakur photographer

Munna remembers arriving in Mumbai in 1991 and taking on various odd jobs before eventually becoming a newspaper hawker in Lokhandwala in 1993. He delivered papers to Camera Art Studio, a photo studio, and in 1998, he was able to secure a part-time job there.

Munna Thaakur journey

By 1998, Munna had started working as an assistant to the renowned photographer Subi Samuel. Munna recalls that in the beginning, he was only assisting in the office and had to prove himself to earn a spot in the studio.

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Munna Thaakur first break

In 1999, Munna’s career got a boost through chance encounters with Arjun Rampal and Mayuri Kango. Munna convinced them to let him do their portfolio shoots, even offering to let them keep the rolls if they weren’t happy with the results. The pictures turned out to be a success and were featured in magazines like Stardust.

Munna Thaakur early work

Following his success with Arjun Rampal and Mayuri Kango, Munna went on to work with top models who later became actors, including John Abraham and Deepika Padukone. Despite his growing success, Munna says he never felt settled or thought he was doing anything special; he simply had the desire to work.

Munna Thaakur’s notable work

Over the course of his 25-year career, Munna has had the opportunity to work with some of the biggest names in Bollywood, including Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Priyanka Chopra, and many others.

Munna Thaakur recent work

Summing up his journey, Munna says, “What I have learned is that there is no substitute for hard work.” He continues to work with some of the biggest stars in Bollywood, with his latest projects featuring Suniel Shetty, Tiger Shroff, and others.