Abandoning his artistic black and white work done during his teenage to late twenties embarked on a successful career as a photojournalist where he documented societies in conflict and transition for over 20 years. He is a three-time World Press Photo Award winner (including the 1984 “Picture of the Year” for his iconic image of the Bhopal Gas Tragedy) and He was awarded the Padma Shri — among India’s highest civilian honours — in 2013 and in 2014 he was awarded Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres one of the highest cultural honors from France.