The first collaboration by Indian icons MF Husain and Shah Rukh Khan fetched £1,60,000 at a star-studded auction at the world-famous Bonhams in Bond Street.
LONDON: The first collaboration by Indian icons MF Husain and Shah Rukh Khan fetched £1,60,000 at a star-studded auction at the world-famous Bonhams in Bond Street. The artist and the film star unveiled their painting of Anarkali as depicted by Madhubala in the film Mughal-e-Azam and gave their finishing touches on stage just before the auction began.
“I have never painted before, except for painting the town red that is,” said Khan as he regaled the bevvy of NRI beauties, who had gate-crashed the auction to catch a glimpse of their favourite star. Bonhams, which had never seen such a large crowd grace their plush auction house, had to ensure tight security for Husain, whose paintings had been vandalised in London when he exhibited in the city last year.
While Husain gave no date for when he would return to India, he said that it was not unusual for controversies to follow artists. “We draw an image and it is sad that we are misunderstood,” said the artist referring to the controversy over his paintings of Hindu goddesses.
Khan on the other hand said that “art isn’t art unless it raises a controversy,” but then distanced himself saying “though I don’t want it to follow me.” The actor also welcomed Husain back to India saying “I hope he returns soon to Mumbai and gives us lot more paintings.” The 42-year-old said that his wife Gauri was the art conisseur in the family and the largest painting hanging in his home in Mumbai was by Husain. Gauri Khan and film director Karan Johar accompanied Shah Rukh to the auction.
The other 35 canvases by Indian masters that were auctioned did not fetch anywhere close to the price they expected. SH Raza’s Ganga, which had a commencing price of £1,04,900, went for £90,000.
Artist Shuvaprasanna whose collaboration with NRI entrepreuner Jasminder Singh, founding owner of the Edwardian Group of luxury hotels, had a brochure commencing price of £11,000. However, the painting entitled Durga went for only £7,500. “I am not happy with the price my painting has been sold for. In India, it would sell for much more,” Shuvaprasanna told DNA. “If I had known that these paintings were going so cheaply I would have registered for the auction,” said one of the sequin-saree clad beauties.
Among the 700-odd people who converged on Bonhams were politicians Digvijay Singh, Kapil Sibal, queen of herbal beauty, Shahnaz Husain, former Indian tennis star Naresh Kumar and wife Sunita, who have been MF Husain’s hosts in Kolkata. The NRI’s who collaborated with Indian masters were also out in force, including Sir Gulam Noon, Baroness Shreela Flather and London society queen Surina Narula.
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