Bharat SainiLast Updated on December 5, 2017 by Bharat Saini
Madame Tussauds Museum, an attraction, in Regal Building at Connaught Place, New Delhi will be open to public on December 1, 2017, with several alluring lifelike wax figures that convey the throbbing potential of life of celebrities, with the tallest among them of Mahatma Gandhi, besides Bhagat Singh and Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. It has figures from the world of entertainment that include Amitabh Bachchan, Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Anil Kapoor, Asha Bhosle, Katrina Kaif, Kareena Kapoor, and international stars including Lady Gaga, Anne Hathway, Angelina Jolie, Will Smith and Scarlett Johansson among others. It has wax figures of international and Indian political leaders, besides India’s sports icons, Sachin Tendulkar, Kapil Dev, Mary Kom and Milkha Singh. Usain Bolt, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo too are there. Other figures here include that of graceful Madhubala in her well known Anarkali pose from the classic movie Mughal-e-Azam, Raj Kapoor placed strategically next to his grandson, Ranbir Kapoor to denote Bollywood’s first family.
Merlin Entertainments plc (Merlin) first in India – a Madame Tussauds wax attraction, it’s the 23rd in the world. Merlin is also looking to roll out several more of its iconic global ‘Midway’ attraction brands such as SEA LIFE and LEGOLAND Discovery Centres in key cities across India, and expects to invest up to £50m there over the next ten years. Merlin Entertainments plc is a global leader in location based, family entertainment. Europe’s Number 1 and the world’s second-largest visitor attraction operator, Merlin now operates over 100 attractions, 12 hotels and 4 holiday villages in 23 countries and across 4 continents.
Madame Tussauds attraction, Delhi is spread over two floors in 20,000 square feet area and apart from 50 wax figures, which cost a jaw-dropping Rs.1.5 crore each, it has other ‘interactions’ that include a counter where one can get his hand cast in wax in any mudra and take it home as a souvenir or a virtual hockey game in the sports section. In house photographers are ready to click visitors with Celebrities, besides satisfying Selfie craze. Visitors can stand or hold their favourite figure and click too. All this fun and activities comes for a price with ticket being pegged at ₹960 for adults and ₹760 for children.
The lifelike figures depict even the forehead wrinkles and the lines on the palm. According to Petra Van Der Meer, Regional Studio Manager, Asia, “We take nearly 250 measurements and 180 photographs of the personality from different angles, besides making hand and dental casts. Each figure resembles the person in total, with changes being effected over a period of time, with their prior permission. For example, if there is a change in hair style or body, we try to incorporate that.” Not just the figures but accessories too play a crucial role lending a touch of authenticity. Gandhiji’s pocket watch and the pen, ink stand and blotter pad in front of Subhas Chandra Bose and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and Raj Kapoor’s tramp figure wearing torn shoes all make them realistic.
Anshul Jain, General Manager and Director of Merlin, India, is expecting it to be a hit and states, “All our attractions continue to be visited in large numbers. In fact, a large percentage of Indians going abroad, do make it a point to visit Madame Tussauds.”
