Increasing urban migration in India has led to fundamental changes in old ways of life. The proliferation of new high-rise apartment blocks in cities, and the fast pace of living, means that people often no longer know their neighbors. They are strangers, living side by side.

I decided to focus on one block of residential apartments in Jaipur and initially set out to photograph as many of the residents there as possible. Soon, I began to make portraits of strangers in other places as well. When I started making the pictures, I would walk up to the door of an apartment at random, ring the bell, and introduce myself to the residents. I faced a lot of suspicion and rejection, but finally a few people allowed me into their homes and I started making images.