Sanjay Sami.
Key Grip & Founder, The Grip Works.
Starting out as a commercial diver, Sanjay moved into the film industry in 1992, working in construction, locations, production as well as post-production. Following his passion for all things mechanical, he found his true calling in the Grip Department. He began working as Key Grip on movies in the late 1990s. He founded The Grip Works in 2003.
The Team.
Javed Ahmed, Key Grip.
Javed joined The Grip Works in 2005. With a background as a machinist, he fit into the grip department very easily. He is now one of the most sought-after Key Grips in India with over 100 commercials and high-profile feature films under his belt. Some notable projects: Extraction, Victoria & Abdul, the Academy Award-nominated Lion.
Karam Appaya, Key Grip.
With a BSc in mechanical engineering, Karam enjoys applying theory to real-world challenges on set. Starting at The Grip Works in 2015, he thrives on the ever-changing nature of life in film from locations to crew. Some notable projects: Academy Award-nominated The White Tiger, Extraction (Key Grip India), Hotel Mumbai, Malegaon ka Superman, Archies.
Himmat Deol, Key Grip.
Himmat joined The Grip Works in 2004, after a postgraduate diploma in Film and Television. His understanding of the aesthetics of cinematography brings a great deal of nuance to his work as a Grip. Some notable projects: Academy Award-nominated White Tiger (Key Grip Second Unit), Gold (Key Grip), Tenet (Best Boy), The Glorias (Best Boy).
Ashraf Sheikh, Best Boy Grip, Key Grip.
Ashraf joined The Grip Works in 2006. Extremely strong and hardworking, with a natural aptitude for all things mechanical, he worked as Best Boy Grip for many years and now as Key Grip on Commercials and Feature Films. Some notable projects: Angrezi Medium (Key Grip), Shantaram, MI 4 Ghost Protocol.
Surendra Kumar Yadav, Best Boy Grip.
Yadav began at The Grip Works in 2009 and quickly established himself as a formidable organiser on set. His abilities as a Best Boy Grip, Rigger, and Camera Car Driver make him a valuable asset on any project. Some notable projects: Shantaram, Extraction, Brahmastra, and Academy Award-nominated Lion.
Wasim Shaikh, Best Boy Grip, Key Grip.
Wasim joined The Grip Works as a Trainee Grip in 2011. A very focussed and quiet man, his intelligence and work ethic, makes him one of the most popular grips on set. A Best Boy that covers all bases, he is also is a Key Grip on commercials. Some notable projects: Hotel Mumbai, Tenet, Million Dollar Arm.
Niranjan Rajbhar, Grip, Driver.
Niranjan started as a Grip Truck Driver in 2009, but a keen interest in other areas of camera support prompted him to start training as a rigger and Company Grip. He is a multi-faceted Grip, especially talented as a rigger. Some notable projects: Beecham House, Shantaram
Om Prakash, Driver.
Om Prakash started working at The Grip Works in 2006 as a Grip Truck driver. Over the years his experience with how the Grip Department works has grown making him a valuable asset, organising the equipment, and keeping workflow efficient.
Harshita Shetty, Office Manager.
The ever-smiling enthusiasm and efficiency which Harshita brings to the nitty-gritty of administration and accounting makes it seem like a breeze! An avid reader and trekker, Harshita loves action movies and enjoys getting a ring-side view of how they’re made.