-by Vivek Desai

Camera: Leica Q

In 2004, the Gemini circus came to Ahmedabad and was being set up on University grounds. The news reached me somehow, and a ‘cityscape’ of an elephant being unloaded from a truck was my first photograph of them.

It was after 12 long years that the coveted subject ‘The Circus’ was returning to me. In the process, I got to peek into the lives of clowns as they shared their personal stories – their ups & downs, and the battles behind the happy masks they proudly wore during their performances.

This insight into the lives of complete strangers gave me a new direction and strength. Sometimes, I still go to their modest tents, to catch up with my clown friends & share some fun moments over a cup of chai.

The Circus, my first beau on my journey as a photographer, has given me a blissful feeling which has been rather impossible to replicate!