Dia Mirza buys iconic 'Mother India' poster for Sanjay Dutt

Mumbai: Dia Mirza bid for and bought an original six-sheet poster of the landmark film "Mother India" -- depicting the iconic Nargis Dutt -- for Rs 145,000 in an auction. The actress, who features in a pivotal role in "Sanju", a movie on Sanjay Dutt's life, wants to gift it to the "Munna Bhai M.B.B.S." star.

Dia bid for the poster at Osian's IIFA Auction at the recently concluded International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) Weekend and Awards in Bangkok.

The poster of the 1957 movie "Mother India" was much in demand but the winning bid of Rs 145,000 came from the UN Environment Goodwill Ambassador Dia, known as much for her community services and activism as for her acting in cinema. She mentioned that she was buying the iconic poster and would like to offer it as a gift to Sanjay, read a statement.

In "Sanju", a Rajkumar Hirani directorial, Dia essays the role of Maanyata Dutt, Sanjay's current wife, opposite Ranbir Kapoor.

The Osian's and IIFA collaboration saw the film fraternity put its weight firmly behind preserving and nurturing of India's rich cinematic culture and its fragile paper-based heritage.

The auction saw Neville Tuli, Chairman of Osian's Group, give vital insights into the need of preserving film memorabilia.

An exhibition was on view for a-day-and-a-half prior to the auction that saw much competition for most of the 109 lots that went under the hammer.

Actor Anil Kapoor got his hands on the iconic first release three-sheet poster of "Mughal-e-Azam" for Rs 210,000.

Anupam Kher made successful bids for the re-release half-sheet poster of "Bandini" for Rs 26,000, and a rare poster of "Kabuliwala" for Rs 34,000. This was the first public auction in which this rare version of Bimal Roy's 1961 "Kabuliwala" poster came up for sale.

Neville Tuli reiterates: "The auction was a major step forward in persuading the Indian film fraternity regarding a shared responsibility towards nurturing our cinematic culture and preserving the rare and fragile cinematic heritage. Stars such as Anupam Kher, Anil Kapoor, Dia Mirza, Bobby Deol, all contributed with a genuine love and commitment towards this long and shared journey.

"Hopefully with the opening of the Osianama Research Center, Archives and Library on October 1, the unity of the film fraternity towards this cause will be evident to the whole world."