After nearly a decade away from the canvas, artist Bharat Tripathi has returned with Anjaneya, his sixth solo exhibition at Mumbai’s Jehangir Art Gallery. The show, inaugurated by filmmakers Nitesh Tiwari and Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari alongside Neila Kapoor, marks a deeply personal comeback—one shaped by devotion, resilience, and transformation. Veteran actress Bindu also joined the gathering to celebrate Tripathi’s return.
Tripathi, a double Harvard graduate, former civil servant, and protégé of the late SH Raza, has spent the past nine years immersed in the spiritual world of Hanuman Chalisa and Sundarkand. The result is a series dedicated entirely to Lord Hanuman, whom he interprets with simplicity and sincerity. “For nine years I lived with Anjaneya. This is my longest project, and I feel it is truly an emotional comeback,” he shared, noting with a smile the significance of nine as Hanuman’s number.
The works strip away embellishments, presenting Hanuman in sindoori red with only a janeu, avoiding crowns or ornaments. His very first painting from the series was sold years ago, long before the exhibition came to life. The choice reflects Tripathi’s belief in Hanuman’s accessibility—“no rituals, no tantrums, only faith.”
Beyond devotion, the canvases carry traces of personal loss. Tripathi lost his father in 2016, his mother in 2018, and battled COVID during the years that followed. “My emotional journey is embedded in these works,” he admitted. Guided occasionally by senior artist Anjolie Ela Menon, Tripathi continues to evolve with every series since his debut Nav Durga in 2009.With Anjaneya, he opens a spiritual dialogue through art—one that merges simplicity, faith, and endurance, inviting viewers to connect with resilience at both divine and human levels. The exhibition runs until September 14.
