Austrian artist sketches Bachchan, Shah Rukh

Austrian painter Helmut Zwerger (65), the only artist whose paintings have been exhibited in space, is in Mumbai on a two-month visit. His love for the city and Bollywood actors has compelled him to put them on canvas.

Zwerger said he has already put the faces of Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Rekha and Aishwarya Rai in acrylic. Otherwise a dentist, Zwerger, over a decade ago realised his dormant talent of painting. Over the period of time he graduated in contemporary art.

"I have sold almost all my 800 paintings and have only five paintings (see pix) left, which will be showcased in the Mumbai exhibition in October. I connect to God through my paintings," he said.

Zwerger is touched by expressions on the face of Mumbai street children. He says, "I intend to use the remittance from the exhibition towards uplifting these children. I will auction one painting especially to aid children suffering from cancer."

His first portrait of actor Arnold Schwarzenegger turned his fate, as the actor himself bought the painting in 1995.