Rajiv Jain

Rajiv Jain (राजीव जैन) is a critically acclaimed, award-winning Indian Kenyan Cinematographer / Director of Photography based in Dubai ( UAE ), Nairobi ( Kenya ) and Mumbai ( India ). His versatility as a Director of Photography has received much praise, and throughout his career, he has frequently collaborated with accomplished filmmakers like Aziz Mirza, Chandrakant Kulkarni, Ketan Mehta, Makrand Deshpande, Late Mukul S. Anand, Nitin Chandrakant Desai, Rajiv Rai, Satish Kaushik, Shyam Benegal, Subhash Ghai and Wanuri Kahiu. He has also set up Rajeev Jain Cinematography and Renge Dragon Pictures at his studio "RaSm Bungalow", which supplies equipment for Documentary Films, TV Commercials and Feature Films. Rajeev Jain is the first Indian Cinematographer in Asia Pacific to be awarded the African Film Commission & African American Film Critics Association membership and has been a mentor of some of the top notch film cinematographers in the Indian, Kenyan and Dubai film industry.

Early life and Education
Rajeev Jain was born on 29 November, 1968 in Lucknow, India in a middle class, Hindi speaking family. He spent his formative years in a village called Basreha, district Etawah which is nestled in the state of Uttar Pradesh, India. He grew up in this one-horse village where his father was a bank employee. He led a very sheltered childhood with little or no contact with the outside world so to speak off. His father had a still Instamatic camera that fascinated him but was forbidden to lay his hands upon; its funny but somewhere his curiosity in photography was actually triggered by this parental diktat. After completing his undergraduate studies in Physics at the University of Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh he had the good fortune of studying at the Bhartendu Academy of Dramatic Arts, (भारतेन्दु नाट्य आकादमी, بھارتیندو نآٹیَہ اکادمی, Bhartendu Natya Akademi, BNA), Lucknow. After attaining a diploma from Bhartendu Natya Academy, he started working in the Indian film industry. Falling in love with ad-making at a young age, Rajeev started his career in the field of ad-photography, and then went on to make a number of TV commercials. Rajeev jain has been a well-respected and notable personality in the Indian Film Industry.

Personal life
He is married to Smita Nair Jain, a senior corporate executive in India and his two daughters, Abigail Jain and Kimberly Jain are popular Indian television actors.

Film and Advertising Career
Rajeev first went to Mumbai's Film City Studios in May 1989, and immediately switched from the 2-D format of still photography to the 3-D world of cinematography. He brings years of professional films and video experience to every production. As Director of Photography he specializes in shooting television commercials and feature films in the 35mm motion picture film format. His body of work as DP covers 10 full length feature films, 15 Short Films, 2504 commercials, 9 TV Series, 145 music videos and 175 documentaries & infomercials. As a DOP and Camera Operator, Rajeev has a wealth of experience with specialty camera rigs, lens systems, SFX techniques, Tyler helicopter mounts, cranes & jibs, probe and swing shift lens systems, blue/green screens, white limbo and HDTV. His freelance work has taken him to Asia, Africa, Europe, and the Middle East.

Features
As Director of Photography
 * Army_(film) – Ram Shetty (1996)
 * Indiansk Raagas (Indian Ragas) – Riina Laine'' (1997)
 * Un Hombre Que Se Parecio A Gandhi (A Man Who Looked Like Gandhi) – Arild Erland (1998)
 * Pyaar Mein Kabhi Kabhi – Raj Kaushal (1999)
 * Comment Beaucoup Mort Dans Bhopal (How Many Died In Bhopal) – Jonna Kowsky (2000)
 * Ein Verkleidet Kathakkali Tzer (A Masked Kathakali Dancer) – Vizi Attila (2001)
 * Badhaai Ho Badhaai – Satish Kaushik (2002)
 * Kashmir Is Still Burning – Pervez Alam  (2003)
 * Ras Star – Wanuri Kahiu (2006)
 * Kadachit – Chandrakant Kulkarni (2008)
 * Meerabai Not Out – Chandrakant Kulkarni (2008)
 * Aiyyo Paaji! – Manika Sharma (2009)
 * Ajintha – Nitin Chandrakant Desai (2012)
 * Sona_Spa – Makrand Deshpande (2013)
 * Carry on Pandu – Chandrakant Kulkarni (2013)
 * Mountain Man – Ketan Mehta (2013)
 * Kalpvriksh – Manika Sharma (2013)

Features
As Additional Cinematographer
 * Trimurti (film) – Mukul S. Anand (1995)
 * Gupt: The Hidden Truth  – Rajiv Rai (1997)
 * Tunnu Ki Tina – Paresh Kamdar (1997)
 * Chalte Chalte (2003 film) – Aziz Mirza (2003)
 * Rang De Basanti – Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra (2006)
 * Afrika, Mon Amour – Carlo Rola (2006)

Commercials
Most notable Advertising campaign in Africa, Asia and Middle East photographed by him are:
 * Zicam
 * Zee TV
 * Yamaha
 * Wisk
 * Windex
 * White Hen
 * White Castle
 * Wheaties
 * Whataburger
 * Western Union
 * Ward's
 * Visa
 * Vaseline Intensive Care
 * United Technologies
 * Unilever
 * True Value Hardware
 * Tropicana Orange Juice
 * Toyota
 * Tide
 * Texaco
 * Telepictures
 * Taco Bell
 * Sprite
 * Spirit Awards
 * Soul Train Awards
 * Sony Television
 * Sony PlayStation
 * Sonic Drive-In
 * Smucker's
 * Sharp
 * Selsun Blue
 * Seaworld
 * Sears
 * Seadoo
 * Schlitz
 * Samsung
 * Sahara Airlines
 * Reese's
 * RC Cola
 * Ralph Lauren
 * Quiksilver
 * Quaker Oats
 * Prudential Insurance
 * Ponds
 * Ponds
 * Pizza Hut
 * Pillsbury
 * Panasonic
 * Outback Steak House
 * Orkin
 * Old Spice
 * Oil of Olay
 * Nyquil
 * Norelco
 * Nissan
 * Nintendo
 * Nintendo
 * Nike
 * Nescafe
 * MTV
 * Mobil
 * Mobil Oil
 * Mirinda
 * Minolta
 * Millstone Coffee
 * Miller Beer
 * Merrill Lynch
 * MCI
 * McDonalds
 * Mazda
 * Maxim Magazine
 * Mattel
 * Mattel
 * Mastercard
 * Maruti Esteem
 * Make A Wish Foundation
 * Mahindra Jeep
 * M & T Bank
 * Louis Rich
 * Long John Silver
 * Listerine
 * Lexus
 * Lever 2000
 * Lee Jeans
 * Lakme
 * K-Swiss
 * Kraft
 * Kraft Foods
 * Kool Aid
 * Kodak
 * Kikkoman
 * KFC
 * Kawasaki
 * Jolly Rancher
 * Jaslok Hospital
 * Jansport
 * Jack In The Box
 * J.C. Penney
 * Ivory
 * Irish Spring
 * Indian Postal Service
 * Indian Airlines
 * Illinois Lottery
 * IHOP
 * IBM
 * Hostess
 * Honeywell
 * Honda
 * Healthy Choice
 * Hasbro
 * Hard Copy
 * Hanes
 * Hallmark
 * Haagen Dazs
 * H & R Block
 * General Mills
 * General Foods
 * General Electric
 * Ford
 * Folgers
 * Folgers Coffee
 * Fisher Price
 * Fancy Feast
 * Extra
 * Estee Lauder
 * ESPN
 * Eggo
 * Eggo
 * Dunlop Tires
 * Dramamine
 * Dr Pepper
 * Dove Bar
 * Dodge
 * Disney
 * Diet Coke
 * Del Taco
 * Crest
 * Cottonelle
 * Coors Beer
 * Converse
 * Colt 45
 * Coca Cola
 * Clorox
 * Clorets
 * Clairol
 * Chrysler
 * Chevy Trucks
 * Chevron
 * Chevrolet
 * Charmin
 * Carta Blanca
 * Carnation
 * Burger King
 * Budwiser
 * Bud Lite
 * Bud Light
 * Briggs & Stratton
 * Boston Chicken
 * BMW
 * Blue Cross
 * Blockbuster
 * Black & Decker
 * BF Goodrich
 * Best Buy
 * BC Tel
 * Bank of India
 * AT&T
 * Animal Planet
 * Amoco
 * Ameritech
 * Altoids
 * Advil
 * 7-11
 * 3 Musketeers

TV Series

 * Sadma – Pavan Kaul (1992)
 * Tota Maina – Shyam Benegal (1993)
 * Panne – Amal Nisar (1993)
 * Grahan – Chandra (1994)
 * Rakh – Gautam Kapoor (1994)
 * Heartbeat FM – Matthew Robinson (2004)

Corporate

 * Union Carbide
 * Unicef
 * Telerama
 * Tata Tea
 * Tata Steel
 * Shaw Wallace
 * IBF
 * HP
 * Emami
 * BBV
 * Arnica