Dream Girl Hema gets her likeness in portrait

Mumbai, Nov 5 (IANS) Bollywood Dream Girl Hema Malini was thrilled when she was presented with her life-size portrait by noted painter brothers Krishn and Govind Kanhai at a function here Monday evening.

'I am absolutely delighted and thrilled by this painting,' said a smiling Hema, thanking the Kanhai brothers for the painting. The actress, who is an accomplished dancer and also a member of the Rajya Sabha, is shown seated, wearing a traditional multi-coloured sari, in the painting.

The brief presentation ceremony was held at the Nehru Centre in south-central Mumbai in the presence of the city's glitterati and art aficionados, including Pratibha Advani, daughter of senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader L.K. Advani.

Govind, the younger Kanhai sibling, told IANS that the oil canvas took 40 days to complete with the help of older brother Krishn.

'Hema is an old family friend, a great dancer who loves art and she has a golden heart. She mentioned once jocularly why we did not make her painting. So we took up the challenge and she even posed for us for this work,' Govind explained.

A five-day-long Kanhai painting exhibition is being held here, after a gap of four years. It closes Tuesday. On display is a rare painting worth Rs.20 million depicting Hindu gods Krishna and Radha.