: National Award-winning filmmaker and founder of Drishyam Films, Manish Mundra, launched his latest coffee table book, Wild Africa: Through My Lens, at Title Waves, Bandra, on Friday, 12th September, at 6 PM.
Actor and producer Dia Mirza, actors Rajat Kapoor and Amit Sadh unveiled the book. The evening featured a compelling conversation with Manish Mundra in dialogue with RJ and film critic Stutee Ghosh, moderated by lyricist and author Neeraj Pandey.
Speaking about the book, Manish Mundra said: “This book has been in the making for many years and it feels very special to finally share it. Wild Africa is close to my heart. It is not only about the animals or the landscapes, but about what they made me feel and the lessons they left behind. Putting these photographs together was like revisiting those moments of patience, silence, and wonder. Holding the finished book now feels like holding a part of that journey in my hands. I am grateful to my publishers Rupa for believing in this project and I hope the book finds its way to many more like-minded audiences.”
Elaborating further, Mundra said: “Africa has been my home. It has been 20-21 years since I set my foot on the continent, especially West Africa. Africa’s given me the space and the freedom. It has given me all that it takes to express, and when that empowerment happened — and that was because of Africa — it became very easy for me to understand the idea of Africa, especially the eastern part where the wildlife is.”
“That’s how the whole idea of taking it to the larger space came in. Be it the films, be it my poems, be it my stories, or anything I do in life, I owe it to Africa, because that came from Africa. The idea of wildlife photography came to me about seven or eight years back, when going to wildlife safaris was in vogue. Once I started going there, I felt something very inviting; something that gives you peace of mind and embraces you,” he added.
“Five to seven days are the days of sheer madness, trying to capture those animals who are not in your control, who behave, act and react in their own way. It is the most challenging thing. And then the act of God — whether it’s going to be cloudy, whether it’s going to rain, whether it’s going to be splotchy heat when they don’t come out — all those things make it very exciting. When I started getting the pictures, I felt it was time to collate them into a coffee-table book that would keep those pictures beyond me, that would remain in my life; otherwise they would be destroyed in the oceans of time. I picked these photographs out of 28,000 images,” Mundra said.
After unveiling the book, Dia Mirza said, “We are connected through our shared love of nature, and we’ve spoken before about your photography — at one point you even said, “maybe someday a book.” I believe a second one may already be on the way, because that’s the kind of bond you have with the natural world. Once you begin photographing nature, you witness it so intimately that it becomes a love affair that never ends.”
“It’s that very love that gives us the power to protect it. Thank you for helping more people discover both the beauty and the quiet strength that nature holds. I hope countless readers experience the magnificence of Africa through your lens, and more importantly, understand how fragile these ecosystems are — and how vital they are to our own survival. What I cherish most about this book is its honesty. Nothing has been digitally altered, which is rare in wildlife photography. Every image feels true, filled with magic, tenderness, raw wilderness, and a touch of wild madness. Thank you for your integrity and for sharing this remarkable journey with all of us,” Dia Mirza added.
Addressing Mundra, actor Rajat Kapoor said: “I’m just amazed at how you keep going off in different directions and successfully so. It’s amazing to see somebody who has a rigour and a drive to keep discovering new parts of themselves. On this new journey, I wish you love, such as everything.”
Actor Amit Sadh said: “I see Mundra as a brother, a friend, and one of the most passionate, simple, honest, and artistic people I know. His creativity is always on. We’ve discussed these books over the years, and it’s finally out. All I’ll say is that this whole world is your playground—just keep playing. Keep choosing your creativity, your humanity, and the respect you have for our people. I think all of that is now translating beautifully into books, photography, and films.”
