The ongoing exhibition ‘Lens & Legacy - Bollywood in Focus’ at the National Gallery of Modern Art Mumbai witnessed a truly memorable evening as veteran actor Jackie Shroff visited the landmark showcase celebrating the golden legacy of Indian cinema. Effortlessly warm and endearing, Shroff took an unhurried walkthrough of the exhibition, stopping graciously for photographs and conversations with guests and admirers through the evening. Philanthropist Dr Aneel Kashi Murarka and veteran theatre personality Dolly Thakore and writer Nandita Puri were also present at the evening.
In a particularly moving moment, Shroff paused before the photographs of Dharmendra, who is being specially honoured in the exhibition alongside legendary singer Asha Bhosle, and affectionately kissed the veteran actor’s portrait, leaving everyone touched. He also stopped before and fondly kissed a photograph of Dev Anand, reminiscing about the icon who had introduced him to cinema many years ago.
Shailesh Achrekar, SMM Ausaja, Jackie Shroff, Nidhi Choudhari and Pradeep Chandra at NGMA Mumbai's Lens and Legacy exhibitionIn high spirits through the evening, Shroff brought his trademark charm and spontaneity to the gallery, singing songs as he moved through the exhibition and sharing nostalgic memories from his younger days. Recalling wrestler-actor Dara Singh’s iconic film ‘King Kong’, he warmly spoke about watching it at Mumbai’s old Silver Theatre, transporting everyone present to another era of cinema-going.
The evening was hosted by IAS Nidhi Choudhari - Director, NGMA Mumbai, who welcomed guests and artists through the showcase. ‘Lens & Legacy - Bollywood in Focus’ brings together a remarkable body of work by some of India’s most respected photojournalists - Pradeep Chandra, Sudharak Olwe, Shantanu Das and Bandeep Singh; film historian-archivist SMM Ausaja; and Neha Kamat of Kamat Foto Flash presenting rare and evocative moments from the world of Indian cinema. The exhibition continues to draw art lovers, cinema enthusiasts and members of the creative fraternity alike, and will remain open to the public at NGMA Mumbai until June 30, 2026.
