Varinder Chawla waited with bated breath at a helipad in Alibaug, a coastal town about 96km (60 miles) from India’s financial capital, Mumbai city.

Through his sources, he had learned that Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan might catch a helicopter from there to head to his palatial home in Mumbai.

It was 2 November 2022, Khan’s birthday. The star always greeted the thousands of fans who gathered outside his home to wish him well on the day. Chawla was sure Khan wouldn’t disappoint them, so he waited patiently.

Finally, a car approached with Khan inside. Chawla gestured at the actor and he waved back; so, he hit the button. Click.

“That was a real money shot. My efforts paid off,” Chawla says.