31 March,2010 09:29 AM IST | | Vivek Sabnis
Get yourself clicked with celebs at Kerala artist's new wax museum
You may meet cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and Bollywood stars Aamir Khan and Shah Rukh Khan the next time you visit Lonavala, but do not expect to get autographs from them. Photographs are not a problem, though, and you may even pose for a picture with your favourite star.
Sunil Kandalloor (38), an artist from Kerala, has created a wax museum at Warsoli in Lonavala and is busy filling it with famous people.
The collection
Kandalloor, who specialises in wax sculptures, has 15 life-size wax statues on display.
There is former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi standing beside former Pakistan prime minister Benazir Bhutto. Oscar winner A R Rahman and Mother Teresa also grace the museum.
"I do like Bal Thackeray, Raj Thackeray and Sharad Pawar, and their life-size wax models will be made soon," Kandalloor said. "I am sure people will get a real-life feel when they see the wax models."
The 2,500 square feet museum also plans to have popular Bollywood stars in the next couple of months.
Visitors from south
Kandalloor also has two museums in Tamil Nadu and Kerala, where he has 25 waxworks of south Indian celebrities and political figures.
"I am bringing them all to the museum in Lonavala next month," he said.
A graduate in fine arts, Kandalloor said creating wax statues was his passion.
"I want to popularise the art of wax modelling in Maharashtra, especially in Mumbai and Pune. That is why I have chosen Lonavala. I am also planning to make a wax museum in Mumbai soon." Noted sculptor Bhagwan Rampure welcomed the arrival of Kandalloor's works in Lonavala.
He said the concept of wax museums was still in its infancy in the state and that there was a need to have such museums in the city, which is known for its passion for the arts and culture.
Entry fee
The cost of making each model is about Rs 1 lakh, said Kandalloor.
"I can recover the money by charging an entry fee for the museum," he said. "I may charge Rs 50 to Rs 75 per head for this museum in Lonavala. The viewers not only see the statues, but also get to take their pictures with their favorite celebrities."
