Jamie Lever turns auto-rickshaw driver, says she has deep respect for women taking up challenging jobs

Jamie Lever recently stepped into the shoes of an auto-rickshaw driver for photographer Amit Khanna’s calendar shoot, Rubaru. What was meant to be an engaging experience briefly took an unexpected turn when a minor mishap occurred.

As part of the shoot, Jamie attempted to learn how to ride an auto-rickshaw under professional supervision. During the process, the accelerator slipped and the vehicle gently bumped into a pile of sand. No one was injured, and the situation was quickly brought under control.

Reflecting on the incident, Jamie says, “Under full guidance, I learnt to ride a rickshaw during the shoot. Despite that, I faced a small mishap when the auto suddenly accelerated and moved to the side, but thankfully no one was hurt. That moment made me realise how casually we take these things and often undervalue auto drivers. Their work demands immense skill, alertness and strength every single day, and I walked away with deep respect for them, especially women who choose such challenging professions to feed their families.”

Talking about the shoot, Jamie says, “Shooting with Amit is always inspiring because his concepts challenge artists in meaningful ways. This calendar celebrates real women in male-dominated professions, and I portrayed a woman auto-rickshaw driver.”

Photographer Amit Khanna explains the thought behind the calendar, saying, “For me, Rubaru is about women stepping into real, grounded roles fearlessly. It is not about perfection, but about authenticity, courage and showing women as they truly are, in every space they choose to occupy.”

In an earlier interaction with us, while addressing her recent break from social media, which some had linked to backlash over a video mimicking Bigg Boss 19 contestant Tanya Mittal, Jamie had said, “This decision had nothing to do with Tanya Mittal. I do not know how people connected the two. When I wrote ‘I lost a part of me’, I meant that 2025 has been extremely busy. I had just returned from my US tour and completed films and other projects. I realised I had lost time with my family. Social media can be exhausting with constant messages and expectations, and I needed to step back and detox.”