Amol Palekar’s interest in the fine arts led him towards a successful career in films, although he still paints and holds exhibitions The recently concluded third edition of Banaras Literature Festival was marked by an array of activities. During one of the sessions, the audience was taken on a nostalgia trip by veteran actor Amol Palekar , who shared some interesting bits from his life in conversation with writer and lyricist Neelesh Mishra. The Baton Baton Mein actor said, “My entire life is full of some beautiful accidents, right from starting as a painting artist, to theatre and then venturing into films.
Whatever I had done in any of these domains has never been accorded by the popular opinion but I have done what I personally liked or what I have learnt from the veterans of the field.” With Vidya Sinha in Rajnigandha (1974) The actor revealed that he started off with an aspiration to become a painter. “After completing my Matric I joined Sir JJ School of Art and did a five-year course in fine arts and did a Post Graduation in Mural.
Within a year of passing this course, I could do a solo painting show thanks to the great artist KH Ara who cancelled his show at Taj Art Gallery to ensure that I was given an opportunity to showcase my work.” When asked whether films like Rajnigandha disrupt the mainstream cinema at that time, he replied, “Now looking back it was a renaissance period in every sphere whether it was art, painting, architecture, literature, music. .
