About-Anil Chandel
Cinematographer | Fine Artist
Anil Chandel is an accomplished cinematographer and Fine Artist with over two decades of professional experience in the Indian film industry. His work brings together the disciplines of fine art and cinema, with a strong emphasis on visual composition, light, atmosphere, and storytelling.
EDUCATION
Bachelor of Fine Arts — New Delhi
Anil Chandel graduated in Fine Arts from New Delhi, where he developed a strong foundation in drawing, painting, visual composition, and the principles of fine art.
Master of Fine Arts — Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda
He pursued his Master’s degree in Fine Arts from Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, one of India’s most respected institutions for art education.
During his postgraduate studies, he had the opportunity to learn from and be influenced by internationally recognised artists and painters including Ramachandran Nair, Gulam Mohammed Sheikh, Jatin Das, and Paramjit Singh.
ARTISTIC TRAINING & INFLUENCES
Anil’s artistic foundation was shaped through his formal education and his exposure to some of India’s leading artists. His training in fine art developed his understanding of colour, form, composition, perspective, and visual expression.
These principles later became an important part of his cinematic language, allowing him to approach cinematography not only as a technical discipline but also as a visual art form.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Anil Chandel has built a career spanning more than two decades in the Indian film industry. His experience encompasses feature films, cinematography, visual development, and collaborative work with leading filmmakers and production teams.
His approach to cinematography is deeply influenced by his background in fine art, particularly in the way he uses light, framing, colour, texture, and composition to create a distinctive visual atmosphere.
KODAK MASTERCLASS
As part of his continued professional development, Anil attended a Kodak Masterclass workshop conducted by Oscar-winning cinematographers Vilmos Zsigmond, ASC, and John Schwartzman, ASC.
The masterclass provided valuable exposure to advanced cinematic techniques and further refined his understanding of cinematography, visual storytelling, and the creative possibilities of light and image-making.
MAJOR FILM — HUM DIL DE CHUKE SANAM
One of the significant milestones in Anil Chandel’s career came through his association as an Associate on Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Hum Dil De Chuke Sanam, starring Salman Khan, Aishwarya Rai, and Ajay Devgn.
The film went on to receive the National Film Award for Best Feature Film and several Filmfare Awards, including recognition for acting, direction, and other major categories.
This project marked an important stage in Anil’s journey within mainstream Indian cinema.
DIRECTOR OF PHOTOGRAPHY
As a Director of Photography, Anil has worked across a range of cinematic projects, bringing his fine-art background and visual sensibility to the moving image.
His cinematographic work reflects a strong interest in natural light, visual atmosphere, composition, and the emotional relationship between characters and their surroundings.
BHOPAL: PRAYER FOR RAIN
Anil Chandel served as Director of Photography on Bhopal: Prayer for Rain, a film based on the Bhopal Gas Tragedy of 1984, one of the world's most devastating industrial disasters.
The film featured international actors including Martin Sheen, Mischa Barton, and Kal Penn and explored the human consequences of the tragedy through a dramatic cinematic narrative.
ASSOCIATED FILM PROJECTS
Anil Chandel has also been associated with several major Indian film productions, including:
Pathaan — featuring Shah Rukh Khan and Deepika Padukone
War — featuring Hrithik Roshan and Tiger Shroff
Thugs of Hindostan — featuring Amitabh Bachchan, Aamir Khan, and Katrina Kaif
These projects represent his experience within large-scale commercial Indian cinema and his ability to work across diverse cinematic environments.
FINE ART
Alongside his career in cinema, Anil Chandel continues to maintain a strong connection with Fine Art.
His artistic practice is rooted in his formal education and the influence of distinguished artists such as Ramachandran Nair, Gulam Mohammed Sheikh, Jatin Das, and Paramjit Singh.
His understanding of painting, colour, form, and composition continues to influence his cinematographic work, creating a natural connection between his two artistic disciplines.
ARTISTIC VISION
For Anil Chandel, cinematography and fine art are closely connected. Both disciplines allow him to explore light, space, colour, texture, movement, and human emotion.
His work reflects a commitment to creating images that are not merely visually striking but also contribute to the mood, character, and narrative of a story.
With more than two decades of experience across fine art and cinema, Anil continues to develop his visual language while exploring new creative possibilities in both disciplines.