Ranjit Dahiya, the face behind the Bollywood murals splashed across Bandra's walls, discusses his latest work and upcoming workshop
Ranjit Dahiya
Ranjit Dahiya
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"We are just about to wrap up work on a mural of Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu," confirms Ranjit Dahiya when we connect with him for a quick chat. The Chapel Road resident is responsible for transforming Bandra into a Bollywood memorial of sorts, using bare walls, buckets of paint, and tireless dedication.
Dahiya’s first piece for the project was a mural of the 1953 film Anarkali
Today, as part of Bollywood Art Project, an initiative he rolled out in 2012, Dahiya has created nearly 15 murals. His most recent canvas can be spotted at a prominent spot on the ever-bustling Hill Road.
A just-completed piece featuring real-life couple Saira Banu and Dilip Kumar
This weekend, the 37-year-old artist will host the upcoming edition of Secret Revealed, a series of workshops where, each month, a well-known artist takes centre stage. "I will be talking to participants about my work, after which I'll give them a demo. Following this, they can create their own piece," he says. Before we can move to the next question, he quickly adds, "You don't need to be good at art to sign up. I'll be simplifying techniques for everyone."
A painting of Rajesh Khanna
Pretty as a picture
While most of Dahiya's masterpieces can be found hiding in narrow bylanes, there's one that you certainly can't miss. It's the 120x150ft mural of cinema icon Dadasaheb Phalke on the MTNL building, which welcomes you the moment you get onto the winding flyover at Bandra Reclamation.
"That was a particularly challenging one. We used 800 litres of paint, and it took me and three other artists 10 days to complete the piece," says Dahiya.
His other pieces, though smaller, are no less impressive. Drawing on the style used in retro Bollywood posters, he has depicted a host of yesteryear superstars, including Amitabh Bachchan, Madhubala, and Rajesh Khanna.
May I paint?
"I don't have half as much trouble painting a mural as I do getting permission for it," says Dahiya, letting out an amused chuckle. "It took me four years of pleading to finally be able to work on the wall with the Dilip Kumar and Saira Banu art."
He shares that he prefers to self-fund this project, because getting sponsors on board means they will "pick my brain." This means that a large chunk of his earnings from freelance graphic design and painting jobs are funnelled towards the making of these murals.
Revealing his modus operandi, he says, "If I like a particular wall of a house, I just knock on the door and ask the resident if I can paint on it. Three times out of 10, they allow me do it."
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