Tanjore works exhibited in capital

"Her work is exquisite and breathtaking. All the pieces show that very delicate and intricate workmanship has gone into making them. It is as good as it can get and I am thoroughly impressed with her work," Jaitley said.

What sets Kumar's work apart from the rest is that her painting are gilded with a plate of gold, making them truly dynamic and glowing. Her body of work covers a broad spectrum of themes from the mythological to the modern, which includes works on Lord Krishna, Ganesha to idyllic scenes of village life.

"I love gold. I feel that it adds energy and colour to my works and to my life. Not only that, I find that working with gold brings me closer to God," said the wife of senior advocate Ranjit Kumar.

Trained for four years in the art form, Kumar has branched out from working on canvas with oil paints to overlaying coasters, gift boxes, trays and photo frames with Tanjore designs.

Deeply fascinated with art from her childhood, she says she is moved by a need to create something new and loves the response her work receives from people.

"I have always been fond of arts since my childhood. Even at the age of 13-14, I knew that I had to express myself through art. It is the passion of my life."

"I am deeply moved by the need to create something new and this need is the reason behind my pieces. People have also loved and appreciated my art and that gives me the inspiration to carry on," she said.

Born on Aug 22, 1955 in Mogalturu, a remote village in the coastal district of West Godavari, Chiranjeevi's original name was Konidela Siva Shankara Varaprasad.

Eldest of three sons of an excise constable, he attended schools in five different places in the district because of his father's frequent transfers.

After graduating in commerce from Narasapur College, he moved to Chennai to seek a career in the film industry and joined a film institute in 1977.