He was left alone at railway station, spend nights on footpath and survived on biscuits. Bihar man now earns money as a living statue artist in Mumbai. But his only dream has a Shah Rukh Khan connection

Mumbai is also known as the City of Dreams. One of the reasons for that is the way the city embraces people from all walks of life, giving them a chance to start over and chase something bigger. Every street has a story, every face carries a journey. From struggle to hope, the city quietly witnesses countless transformations. It does not promise success, but it offers opportunity and sometimes that is enough to keep dreams alive and moving forward. Along similar lines, Taukir Alam, a living statue performer, has shared his journey from Bihar to Mumbai and how the city has shaped him.

From survival on streets to finding purpose

In a video posted by Humans of Bombay on Instagram, Taukir Alam revealed that he was only 8 years old when his cousin left him at the Thane station. All alone in the big city, he spent nights on footpaths, survived on Parle-G biscuits, and even stayed at police stations, holding onto nothing but hope.



Before becoming a professional living statue artist, Taukir Alam worked as a waiter at a hotel where the owner used to mistreat him. He then shifted to a tailoring job and remained there for several years, although he was never fully happy with the profession. Taukir wanted to become an actor. One day, he was watching a video on his phone featuring a foreign man who became very famous for doing statue art. That’s when Taukir realised that he could do it too.

‘Golden Man’ with a Bollywood dream

Taukir Alam started collecting props and paint to dress himself. But he feared that people and would mock him. His assumptions turned out to be true and passersby would pass demeaning remarks at Taukir. But over time, people started noticing him and calling him ‘Golden Man’, because he used to paint himself in the colour and stand on the streets. ‘I became a living statue, standing still in a city that never stops,’ he said, adding that in a world where everyone is running, sometimes the only thing people truly see is what stands still.

Taukir Alam stated that he does not simply stand on his feet, but he stands on belief and strength. Although many people misunderstood him, judged him and pushed him away, he never gave up and that what mattered. In conclusion, Taukir expressed his only dream, which was for Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan to notice him. According to the artist, that moment, if it ever happens, will change his life forever.