Amrita Rao says MF Husain was initially hesitant to meet her after watching Vivaah. Here’s why

Actor Amrita Rao has recalled that the late painter MF Husain had invited her and her mother to Dubai to paint her live. However, he was apprehensive about the ‘real’ Amrita being true to her on-screen persona in the film Vivaah. Amrita also revealed that he gifted her his ‘signature’ paintbrush.

Amrita Rao had impressed MF Hussain with her performance in the 2006 film Vivaah. Directed by Sooraj Barjatya, the film also featured Shahid Kapoor in the lead role. A few years ago, she had shared a video in which MF Hussain painted her portrait.

Speaking to a leading daily on his birth anniversary, Amrita said, “Husain sahab had invited me and my mom to Dubai to be his guest while he wanted to paint me live. On the last day of our visit, he confessed to my mom that he was initially hesitant to meet me in person, apprehensive, that if the ‘real’ Amrita was not true to her on screen persona in Vivaah then he would be disillusioned after having met me.” She added that after meeting her he had said that she ‘surpassed his expectation and called her ‘far more beautiful as a person in real life than I expected’. Amrita also said, “This is when he presented me with his signature brush! He said, ‘Remember only 3 people in the world own it’, he added’.”

She also said, “I recall the first time I met Husain sahab, he had come to receive us at the Dubai airport, I noticed him walking barefoot holding onto a long black paintbrush which he used as his signature walking stick. I thought it was such a unique and stylish statement. On the last day when he gave me that brush as a parting gift along with a compliment I was so moved that I had tears in my eyes.”

A few years ago, in an interview with Zoom, Amrita was reminded that MF Husain once said that after Madhuri Dixit, hers was the only face that excited him. Amrita had called the compliment ‘historic’. Amrita had said, “That is one of the best compliments. And, it is going to be, I think a historic compliment when I look back at my profile, my career.”

Also Read | Happy Birthday Amrita Rao: Here’s how she reacted to becoming MF Hussain’s muse after Madhuri Dixit

Amrita Rao has featured in several films including Main Hoon Na, Masti, and Welcome To Sajjanpur. She tied the knot with RJ Anmol in 2016 and in 2020 welcomed their first child, a boy named Veer. She made her comeback in 2019 with Nawazuddin Siddiqui-starrer Thackeray.