Michelle Poonawalla's 'fraud-proof' art secret

Some family secrets are only known to a chosen few members. Renowned architect-artist Jehangir Vazifdar left his in the safe-keeping of his granddaughter, Michelle Poonawalla, who also leans towards the arts.

When the late Vazifdar left his paintings to the family's private collection, he handed over the secret of 'fraud-proof paintings' to his granddaughter.

"He used to paint the canvas first and then carve out the subject. He called it the fraud-proof technique, because this can never be replicated," says Michelle, who is married to industrialist Yohan Poonawalla. The paintings were opened to the public by Vazifdar's son Phiroze, a builder, at an art gallery in a Mumbai hotel.

"His secret is safe with me and will remain till I find another artist in the future generations," says Michelle. Refusing to even drop a hint, she adds, "I am the only one in the whole world who knows it."

Vazifdar's bui ldings, like Washington House, Cuffe Castle, have been an iconic part of Mumbai's skyline, but Phiroze says that his father never wanted to put a price tag on his paintings. "We have not even thought about valuating or insuring them yet," says Phiroze.