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Athul Prasad is one of the best photographers I have come across. A student at Symbiosis Centre for Media & Communication, his photographs have the perfection of a full fledged professional photographer. I personally think that his forte is lighting, but this new series of his which was recently featured by National Geographic Traveller showed a completely new beat he has experimented with. Double exposure! You can follow him on Facebook and Instagram to see more of his awesome work.

This photo series is on the city of dreams, Mumbai!

Mumbai has always been the city of dreams and people from all over the country come here to make them true. Some are living it, some are following it, and some are still dreaming. In either way, their heart has a desire, a longing which comes out through them, one way or the other.

This photo story is about 10 people from 10 different professions, double exposed against an image of their dream, an image of a piece of their heart.

1. Photographer Sathyanarayan & The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel

“Sure the Taj hotel is beyond majestic. Someday, I hope to get in,” says Sathyanarayan, who has been capturing memories outside The Gateway of India from past 14 years. He is a Tamilian from Kanyakumar, and arrived Bombay back in 1999.

2. Taxi Driver Ramesh & Central Bank of India

Ramesh Rathore has been driving his taxi for past 30 years and his Fiat’s lease is nearing its end. All he wants is a smooth renewal and a self sufficient future. “I don’t plan on buying a car at the moment. Maybe an i10 sometime in the future. This city has no parking space anyway,” he said.

3. Mohan from LGBT community & Sidhi Vinayak temple

Mohan (name changed) came to Mumbai nine years ago. Financial glitches made him work as a hijda, similar to his father in his old days. Today, Mohan is satisfied with is both his jobs; one as a hijda and other as his original self with a part-time job in the Siddhivinayak temple. “While you put on a suit and go to offices for work, I put on my saree and go to the road for my work. That’s my outfit,” he said.

4. Dabbawala Arjun & a flat in Bandra

Arjun Sawant has been working as a Dabbawala for past 10 years, although he moved to Mumbai from Pune 15 years ago. “I like how my job has taken me to places like Walkeshwar & Bandra every day. Someday, I’ll be the one opening my door to a dabbawala here.”

5. Train Driver Mumtaz & Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus

Asia’s first female diesel engine driver, Mumtaz, has been working in Mumbai for past 10 years. Unlike us, she doesn’t get a day off and has to work 365 days a year. “They ought to give me a promotion so that I can start driving expressway trains. How else can I dream of spending time with my little ones back home?”

6. Dhobiwala Amardeep & St. Xaviers College

Amardeep left Varanasi 10 years ago to move to the city of his dreams. “All my life, I detested the concept of education. Today, I detest myself for the same reason. I am one of the few fathers in the world who want my children not to follow my example. I didn’t have a choice in life. They should.”

7. Sports kid Sidhant & Wankhede Stadium

14 year old Sidhant Jaiswal, makes a 2 hour journey by local train everyday for a game of cricket. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have enough money to avail professional coaching services. “I don’t want to be like any other cricketer. I’m going to be the next Sidhant Jaiswal. And by the way, if you click my photograph, will I get to play at the Wankhede?”

8. Fisherman Ramesh & Maharashtra Police Headquarters

Ramesh is a 22 year old fisherman, who spends 8 months of a year in Mumbai, and remaining 3 back home in Andhra. “I’ve always wanted to be a policeman all my life. I remember this incident in a train, about seven years ago, when a bunch of policemen came to me and demanded my id card. Those chaps also took away 15,000 rupees which I’d saved up for my family back home. More than enough reason to become a cop now.”

9. Choreographer Bhakti & Metro Cinema

Studying in R.A. Podar college, Bhakti Makwana manages her education and dancing brilliantly. She dreams of dancing for Hip Hop International in Las Vegas and is working very hard for it. Name, fame & Bollywood. I’ll get there someday.”

10. Pavwala Sadiq & City Bakery

Mohammed Sadiq form Azamgarh came to Mumbai to try his luck four years ago. Today, he sells pavs to various hotels and shops near CST. “I hope I get to open a bakery someday & keep my four kids happy. They refuse to study otherwise & Mumbai weather is unbearable.”

All pictures are owned by Athul Prasad and are published here with his permission.