Mr India is now the Indian Raging Bull

There are books on movies and there are books made into movies. But, ever heard of movies being captured as a visual? Winner of Mr India title, model-turned-actor Bikram Saluja re-interprets 2 classic movies through still photography in hisu00a0first book

In a famous quote, author JW Eagan declares, "Never judge a book by its movie". But what does one do when a movie is converted into a book? For starters, weu00a0 could appreciate the peerless idea. Former Mr India, actor Bikram Saluja took up a mammoth task of reinterpreting, The Godfather and The Raging Bull, and turning the two iconic Hollywood classics into a book, which takes you through the lives of an Indian builder and boxer and what happens to them when they're set in the same situations as the reel characters Michael Corleone and Jake La Motta.

Stills from An Actor's Inspiration

Bikram has practically turned the phrase "two-in-one" on its head with his latest venture. While one half of the book tells the story of construction baron Rajat Raina inspired by Al Pacino's portrayal of Michael Corleone, turn it upside down and you come face to face with Rishad Pundole, whose character is based on Robert De Niro's part in The Raging Bull. "I chanced upon the idea as I was looking for something that would challenge the actor in me," says Bikram, who dedicated four years to the project. The book has been authorised by the copyright holders of the films Paramount Pictures and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios for private distribution.

Wondering how to get a hold of a copy? It won't be that easy. Starting today, the book and pictures will be on display at the Tao Art Gallery. The exhibition will also feature an exclusive music video shot during the making of the book, composed by Taufiq Qureshi. "To ensure that the emotions portrayed in the stills were genuine, we were literally enacting the sequences. That's why I decided we should also have a video shot. I got two students from FTII to shoot some candid, behind-the-scenes footage," explains Bikram.