Get close to celebs at Kolkata's first wax museum

Get up, close and personal with celebrities including Bollywood superstars Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan when Kolkata's first wax museum, modelled on London's famed Madame Tussauds, is thrown open Nov 10.

At its opening, as many as 19 life-size wax statues will dot the museum christened 'Mother's Wax Museum' after Mother Teresa. Exhibiting models of historical personalities to luminaries of the Indian cinema, it will offer visitors a chance to get themselves photographed with the statue of their choice.

Located in Finance Centre, New Town, it is spread over an area of 5,000 square feet.

Veteran wax sculptor Susanta Ray, who has a smaller wax museum in Asansol in Burdwan district of West Bengal, has crafted 19 statues.

"It will be inaugurated Nov 10. Initially, 19 statues have been placed and as the demand increases more will come up," Ray told IANS, refusing to divulge additional details before the opening.

Ray's repertoire includes wax replicas of President Pranab Mukherjee and cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar which created quite a buzz.

The project has been implemented by the Housing Infrastructure Development Corporation.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is slated to inaugurate the museum along with Amitabh Bachchan and Shah Rukh Khan who will be in the city Nov 10 for the 20th Kolkata International Film Festival opening ceremony.