Indian Photographer Snaps Hollywood's Deadpool

Rohan Shrestha, a celebrated Indian photographer, has added another Hollywood A-lister to his impressive portfolio, further cementing his place on the global stage. Following collaborations with renowned figures such as Lionel Messi, Kevin Hart, and Oprah Winfrey, Shrestha recently completed an exclusive photoshoot with "Deadpool" star Ryan Reynolds.

The timing of the shoot coincides with the release of "Deadpool vs. Wolverine," a film anticipated to be a major box office hit this year. Shrestha, known for capturing iconic Bollywood stars like Shah Rukh Khan, Ranveer Singh, and Alia Bhatt, has been steadily building his international presence. His "White T Series," featuring celebrities in simple white T-shirts, has gained particular acclaim for its striking simplicity and ability to capture the essence of his subjects, as seen in his portrait of Oprah Winfrey. This series, launched in 2012 with actor Abhay Deol, has become a signature element of Shrestha's work.

As the son of well-regarded Indian photographer Rakesh Shrestha, Rohan has inherited a passion for capturing the true essence of his subjects. He is highly sought after for his ability to create stripped-down portraits that reveal personality. This is evident in his series of personal portraits, which include "Slumdog Millionaire" star Freida Pinto and "New Amsterdam" actor Anupam Kher, alongside his work with Khan, Kohli, and Bhatt. His commissioned work extends beyond Bollywood, encompassing projects such as the Manchester City soccer team for UAE telecoms provider Etisalat, Jason Momoa for Abu Dhabi's Yas Island venue, Sofia Vergara for mall VIA Riyadh, Anil Kapoor for Uber, and Ranveer Singh for the NBA.

For the Reynolds shoot, Shrestha utilised his signature style, producing a series of black and white portraits. A longtime admirer of Reynolds, Shrestha shared an anecdote about bonding with the star over his early role in "Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place."

"The first thing I spoke to him about was a show that he was a part of when he was much younger," Shrestha told *Variety*. "I told him about his character Berg and how I used to watch that growing up in India. He laughed and said, 'Oh, that's awesome, man, that's still one of my most favourite roles that I've played.'"

Shrestha added, "He's genuinely nice and funny. He made everybody on the crew laugh. For me personally, I was kind of nervous just because it's always nervy to shoot someone you're in awe of."

This shared connection over Reynolds' early work created a "wonderful moment" that Shrestha was able to share with the Hollywood star, highlighting the personal touch that defines his approach to photography.