Arvind Singh
Arvind Singh, born smack dab in the heart of Varanasi—yeah, the city with all that ancient spiritual energy buzzing around—grew up in a family that was basically your classic Indian setup. Dad, Brij Bahadur Singh, did the whole banking thing and eventually hung up his boots, while mom, Vijaya Kumari Singh, kept the home base running smooth. Early days? Schooling at Besant Theosophical Society in Varanasi. Not exactly a slacker, Arvind powered through a Master’s in Organic Chemistry at Udai Pratap College, and then, because why not, grabbed a Bachelor’s in Mass Communications from B.H.U. Varanasi.
But here’s where things get spicy—dude’s got a thing for photography. Like, really into it. That itch led him straight to FTII, Pune. Cinematography became his jam. He literally dove headfirst into the world of motion picture photography, soaking up every frame and shadow. Bollywood came knocking in 1997; his first gig? Cinematographer for the TV show "Aurat." Not too shabby for a rookie. And then the big leagues: in 1999, he’s assisting Kiran Deohans—yeah, the Kiran Deohans—on the film "AKS" with legends like Amitabh Bachchan and Manoj Bajpai lighting up the screen. Didn’t stop there. In 2000, he’s back at it, again shadowing Deohans for the mega-blockbuster "Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham," with a cast that reads like a Bollywood hall of fame: Amitabh, Shahrukh, Hrithik, Jaya, Kajol, Kareena—you name it. That’s Arvind’s ride, from Varanasi’s ghats to the bright chaos of Bollywood sets.