Star paintings: gimmick or art?

What's common between Salman khan Sushmita Sen, Katrina Kaif, Preity Zinta Twinkle Khanna, Deepti Naval, Suchitra Krishnamoorthy, Gurinder Chaddha, Ayesha Takia, Dia Mirza and, now, Abhishek Bachchan ? Other than them being from Bollywood , they've all been splashing their skills on canvas. And it's not just for fun - Salman Khan and Suchitra Krishnamoorthy have put their works up for sale.

Responses to the trend have been varied. "Isn't Bollywood lucrative any more?" asks Yusuf Arakkal. The Bangalore-based painter has seen actress Deepti Naval's paintings, but didn't find them exceptional. "She manages her canvas well, but her paintings aren't great. Still, from what I know, even her paintings sell for Rs 4-5 lakh. A Jogen Choudhury painting doesn't sell for more than Rs 30 lakh, far less than what Salman Khan has been getting for his work," he says.

Bollywood stars are definitely taking the focus away from professional artists. While struggling artists trying to make it big may consider it a matter of concern, established artists aren't insecure. Explains art critic Ranjit Hoskote, "This is a trend framed for media consumption. Art has become fashionable now. But artists don't need to be threatened since film stars and painters are two different segments in a very large media. Besides, there's enough space in the economy to accommodate the works of both."

There's no doubt, though, that a star signature adds to the value of these works. So who's buying them? Art experts and curators say it's mainly foreign investors like wealthy NRIs and people from the film industry.

But not everyone is enamoured of Bollywood's brush with art. Anju Sehgal, curator and wife of singer Baba Sehgal, says she isn't mesmerised by star paintings. "I'll never buy their work. The problem in India is there are no standards for anything. So even a Salman Khan painting sells for Rs 1 crore. But hiking the prices of celeb art discourages new art collectors and artists. They feel that if Salman is selling for that much, a Jogen Choudhury must be selling for more and, consequently, back out of buying. If these canvases are used to raise funds for a cause, the price is justified. Otherwise there shouldn't be so much hype around this trend," she feels.

Art experts concede that painting, like cinema, is a way of self-expression and anyone can try their hand at it. But if they're putting it up for public consumption, they must be serious. While some, like Deepti Naval and Suchitra Krishnamoorthy, have had training, most stars treat it as a spare time activity. Suchitra, who was trained by artist Anil Nayak, says she probably started this latest spurt in stars taking to art, and adds it's now a mainstream career for her. But she doesn't agree that stardom makes it easier to establish a reputation in art. "The art world is genteel and well-informed. People won't buy work if it's not genuinely good. In fact, people from the glam industry are not taken seriously and have to work harder to be accepted. I'm all for film stars wielding the brush," she says.

that is one ugly painting - sorry..

but itz better than watever i can draw 😆 i cant even draw stick ppl correctly 🤓

Originally posted by: srk_lover

but itz better than watever i can draw 😆 i cant even draw stick ppl correctly 🤓

ditto. even my stick people look retarded.😆

i don't know what to say on the matter though. both sides have their own point but personally speaking i'll never buy a star's painting.😊

but one fact is their paintings get sold only due to the star name attached not because of the painting itself 😉

That painting would actually freak me out 😆

what they cannot have a hobby now because they are stars if thats a example of salmans painting its good 👏 👏 👏

He said he made another one that he showed on Dus ka dum,the one that he said he made in jail,where he looked at his face in the water?

omg awww i nvr knew ayesha and abhi...or salu paintedd tht is soo kewll

i love the painting...good job sallu 👏 👏