Get to know... Rohit Chawla

The photographer and artist (@ RohitChawlaPhotography_) on his newest exhibition, Havana, why he loves 1970s music, and the genre of books he’d never buy

Get to know... Rohit Chawla

Currently I am

Showing my new exhibition, HAVANA, at The Quorum, Gurugram until November 30.

High point in life

Walking the red carpet with the Gold Lion for craft at Cannes 2023. It was the perfect full stop to life in advertising.

Low point in life

Losing my sister to Covid.

On my playlist

Prateek Kuhad, Maria Callas, Swanand Kirkire. I love podcasts by psychoanalyst Adam Phillips; and Empire by William Dalrymple and Anita Anand.

One thing I would never buy

A self-help book.

Best Insta photography tip

Always be ready to see beauty in this world.

Last thing I ordered online

A Muji T-shirt.

One word that sums up my exhibition

Frozen.

My favourite subject in school

Biology.

I’d swipe right on

Dusky women with curly hair.

My secret skill is

Managing with less.

A superpower/magic tool I wish I had

The ability to suffer influencers.

My favourite Sunday memory

The walk with my dogs at sunset on Morjim beach.

My secret favourite work at the exhibition is

Love Letter to Che Guevara.

My most star-struck moment

Breakfast with Henri Cartier-Bresson at Arles, France in 1991. Coffee with Richard Avedon in New Delhi.

My favourite bad habit

Chola bhatura with lassi after any overseas trip.

If I could travel back or forward in time, I’d…

Visit the 1970s for the best Hindi music.

The best thing about fame

You always have a bunch of people who believe in you, which helps to put things together.

The worst thing about fame

The ones closest to you often find it more difficult to witness fame.