Will Anupam Kher hang?

One of the finest actors of the Hindi film industry and his life is now inspiration for a collection of art works that will be up for viewing this week

Yes, he is a terrific actor, one of the best we have had, but what we are curious about is whether an art lover, or a connoisseur, will take out time to view Anupam Kher hang in acrylic pastels on the walls of an art gallery?
Mumbai-based artist Geeta Dass certainly thinks so.

A collection of her most recent work, profiles character actor Kher, and is inspired by his hugely successful autobiographical play, Kuch Bhi Ho Sakta Hai.
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When Dass watched it at one of the many packed performances, she was tempted to translate it on canvas. "Just like a writer would work on a biography, I decided to depict his life through paint; that's my medium," says the artist who specialises in portraits.

Tell her that she is perhaps only the second artist to have a Bollywood actor as muse (MF Hussain, of course, flits between several leading actresses), and Dass says she didn't paint Kher because he is a celebrity.

"Hussain had once said that he painted Madhuri (Dixit) because she reminded him of his late mother. I chose Anupam because I wanted to paint a living legend. When I met him, I saw that he is a fine soul. I'm hoping that reflects in my art."

Dass decided to paint Kher six years ago, but it was after she watched a performance of the play that she approached him for permission.

The 17 paintings in the untitled collection depict various phases in the actor's life, much the same way the play does. "He is the hero of this collection, but I've tried keeping it real so that people are able to relate to the Anupam Kher they are used to seeing," says Dass.

The exhibition will be open for viewing from September 8 to 14 at Gallery Le Sutra, Le Sutra, Indian Art Hotel, Union Park, Khar (W). Call: 32511447. 10 am onwards.