In a fleeting moment of stillness, framed in black and white, the young tiger known as D2 stares straight into the lens. Every detail is vivid: the fine texture of his coat, the restless energy beneath his skin, and the lightning-shaped scar slashed across his nose.

D2 is the son of Dotty, one of Bandhavgarh’s most celebrated tigresses and a star of the BBC’s Dynasties. Through Dotty’s quiet trust of human presence — built over years of careful coexistence — D2 has inherited a rare composure. Where many young tigers would vanish into the forest shadows, he stands his ground. This subtle habituation offers a precious window into his world, allowing glimpses of the private life of tigers that few ever see.

Bandhavgarh itself is a place steeped in tiger history — a dense, rugged landscape of sal forests, crumbling forts, and ancient stories whispered between towering trees. Here, life clings fiercely to every inch of land, and the tigers reign supreme. Yet even in this stronghold, survival is not promised. Competition is fierce, territories are hard-won, and each young tiger must carve out their future. The close angle of this portrait collapses the distance between D2 and the viewer, magnifying both his vulnerability and his burgeoning strength. In his steady gaze, in the scar that already defines him -the timeless battle to endure, to rule, to thrive.