Prime Minister Narendra Modi would have sat through a lengthy and meticulous process as more than 250 precise measurements and photographs of him would have been taken by the team from Madame Tussauds to help create his wax figure accurately.
The world famous wax museum announced on Wednesday that PM Modi would join the ranks of prominent global leaders featured by it next month.
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The attention to detail involved in the process would not have been lost on the prime minister. Observing the team at work, PM Modi said, "During my sitting, I observed the team carefully and was deeply impressed by its dedication, professionalism and skill. I have visited Madame Tussauds three or four times and had the pleasure of getting myself photographed standing next to the figures of various dignitaries."
According to its official website, the studio artists at Madame Tussauds will study hundreds of photos and watch hours of video pertaining to the individual to create an accurate figure if the subject is unavailable for these measurements and photographs.
While explaining why Tussauds has decided to feature his figure, the prime minister said, "Madame Tussauds has crafted figures of very distinguished dignitaries from around the world - how could I regard myself worthy of being alongside them? But when I was informed that your decision had emanated from public opinion and public sentiment, I was comforted."
According to a report by The Guardian, Madame Tussauds claims that there are no contracts and no public personality, celebrity or leader is paid to be reproduced in wax.
Speaking to The Guardian, Liz Edwards, spokeswoman for Madame Tussauds, said, "They give up their time for nothing but the privilege and honour of having their figure done."
According to the wax museum, the vital statistics of all subjects are kept confidential.
Of course, the process of creating these figures is painstakingly complex. For instance, each strand of hair is inserted individually and it can take approximately five weeks to complete each head. The attention to detail means that even the veins, made from red silk thread, in the subject's eyeballs must be visible. According to the museum, knotted rope is used to create the look of veins on the rest of the body.
The physical properties of wax also play a determining role. Since wax shrinks, the figures are made two per cent larger than the real life subjects they portray.
To add to the authenticity of the figures, many of the subjects are known to even donate their own clothes and artifacts.
In the prime minister's case, the figures at each of the museum's locations around Europe and Asia would be dressed in his "signature kurta".
Although, Indians might not have to travel too far to see their prime minister in wax. According to reports, a new branch of Madame Tussauds is set to open in New Delhi as part of the India-UK Year of Culture in 2017.
Among Indian political leaders, figures of Mahatma Gandhi and former prime minister Indira Gandhi are also residents of the museum. The "master blaster" and cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar can also be found at Tussauds.
Among Indian political leaders, figures of Mahatma Gandhi and former prime minister Indira Gandhi are also residents of the museum. The "master blaster" and cricketing legend Sachin Tendulkar can also be found at Tussauds.
Other Indian personalities featured at the museum have usually only been Bollywood stars, including Amitabh Bachchan, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan, Hrithik Roshan, Madhuri Dixit Nene, Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif.
