An ode to Irrfan, in a Mumbai alley
About two days back, the late actor Irrfan Khan’s elder son Babil shared a story on his social media — it was a large mural of his father on Waroda Road, in Bandra, Mumbai. The mural is by Ranjit Dahiya, a 42-year-old artist. “I liked him a lot... I’ve made murals of Bollywood actors in Mumbai, so I thought why not give Irrfan a tribute too,” says Dahiya, founder of Bollywood Art Project, a street artists’ collective.
The artwork, in black, white and yellow, is a close-up of the late actor. Dahiya started painting it on April 29, the day Irrfan passed away. Asked if there were any restrictions while painting the mural, he says, “I was helped by a friend. We kept a distance while painting and avoided speaking to anyone on the road.”
Dahiya, who hails from Sonepat, Haryana, and is a National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, alumnus, came to Mumbai years ago. “Before college, I’d paint slogans on streets and did whitewash-related jobs. I guess it taught me to make large murals.”
The nearby Chapel Road is adorned with murals of late actors Sridevi and Madhubala, also Dahiya’s tributes to them. He now plans to paint a Rishi Kapoor mural. “He too was one of my favourites. I grew up watching his films. We’re looking for a wall and people who can help us buy materials as this is a financially difficult time for us artists.”