Bollywood actors turning into fashion designers and endorsing multiple brands is not breaking news. But if the same lot were to set their creative sights on a canvas and embrace oil paint instead of war paint, then it's worth a second look. Leading the actor-turned-painter brigade is Salman Khan, Katrina Kaif, Sushmita Sen, Urmila Matondkar and former actress Twinkle Khanna (wife of superstar Akshay Kumar).
While some are unwilling to take their murals out of the closet, others are donating their creations as a token of their appreciation. Though it's too early to tell whether this fad will last till the colours dry on their masterpieces, here's a look at the stars who turned to another art form to fulfil their creative urges.
Salman Khan
Over the years, Bollywood's brat pack leader has revealed his wild streaks with admirable consistency. His scandal-ridden life was hardly the picture of perfection as he battled allegations like roughing up his girlfriends, ramming his Land Cruiser into four street dwellers in a drunken daze and poaching endangered wild animals.
So, who would have thought that beneath the tarnished portrait was a brush-wielding tortured soul waiting to break free? Sadly, his coming-out party in May 2007 was a non-starter with the actor pulling a typical Salman Khan on the organisers.
Rumour has it that the brash star agreed to auction his first painting (a sentimental portrait depicting a mother's love for a child) and donate the proceeds to a Mumbai-based charity foundation, but pulled out when he realised that his prized procession was being sold for a measly Dh200,000.
Sky high expectations
A visibly-miffed Khan attributed his erratic behaviour to sudden possessiveness, sky high expectations and simple economics. "My fetching picture should fetch a handsomer price" was his credo. A few weeks later, it was reported that an obscure art connoisseur purchased the painting from Khan directly for a whopping Dh1 million.
The deal was brokered in private and the proceeds were funnelled into his personal charitable organisation: The Salman Khan Foundation. Though it's very tempting to play Nancy Drew following such high-voltage drama, our hopes were dashed when Salman Khan's secretary informed us that the actor was unavailable for comment.
It's obvious that the actor has moved on to greener canvases. His master stroke was delivered on August 15 when he gave a portrait of the legendary actor Raj Kapoor to his grandson Ranbir Kapoor, on his game show Dus Ka Dum. The portrait now adorns the walls of the reputed R.K. Studios in Mumbai.
Katrina Kaif
It's believed that couples tend to resemble one another after prolonged contact. Fortunately, Kaif and Salman Khan have not reached that point. But, it's obvious that a bit of her on-off boyfriend has rubbed off on this model-turned-actress. The Bollywood eye candy was at her altruistic best when she gifted director Vipul Shah a three metre tall painting of Mahatma Gandhi. And unlike her boyfriend, Kaif has adopted the art for art's sake slogan.
A noble gesture minus economic gain towards a director who put her on the Bollywood map was all it was. Her aesthetic fervour continues unabated. Recently, she was seen lending cosmetic touches to the paintings that were spun off from her latest release Singh Is Kinng.
Sushmita Sen
Hailed as a thinking-man's eye candy, it's said that Sen reaches her zen state when she dabbles in watercolours and oil paints. But, this model-turned-actor-turned-painter-turned-entrepreneur swears by a cardinal rule for her artistic pursuits. The rule? Her paintings are not for sale and are a part of her inner sanctum.
But an exception was made in 2006 when she placed her painting Ibaadat under the hammer for the charitable cause of a cancer hospital in Pakistan. The painting was bought by an unidentified Dubai-based business of Pakistani origin for Dh240,000.
Suffice it to say, the former Pakistani cricket captain Imran Khan, who was the brain behind the benefit, was a relieved man when this ex-Miss Universe played the role of a global goodwill ambassador long after she gave up the crown.
Urmila Matondkar
This fading star fits the mould of a reclusive artist perfectly. With as many as 30 paintings to her credit, Matondkar prefers to keep her abstract art away from the public scrutiny at all costs. Some may call it lack of confidence, but it's obvious that this actress–turned-songstress is only comfortable exercising her vocal and histrionic skills.
Twinkle Khanna
Khanna's Bollywood career may have been short-lived and colourless, but it's unfair to assume that her brush strokes would be equally feeble. The wife of celebrated actor Akshay Kumar, has joined hands with Mumbai-based painter Seema Kohli to make her foray into the artistic world a memorable one.
Word has it that Khanna chose to pick up the palette as a part of a charity initiative organised by a Delhi-based NGO Khushii. Her chances at gaining a toe-hold in the artistic space are strong since Khanna is an established celebrity interior designer who is no stranger to sketching.
Did you know?
Salman Khan gave away two of his paintings to his frenemy Shah Rukh Khan. But the olive branch was extended long before their infamous bust-up over who was the King Of Bollywood.
Bollywood starlet Dia Mirza and daughter of a German painter Late Frank Handrick loves to paint in her spare time and has all the painting paraphernalia in her bedroom.
