'Netas wanted MF Husain to paint portraits for free'

In a revelation that strengthens people’s perception about the political class, Shamshad Husain, son of eminent painter MF Husain, said several political leaders wanted his father to paint their portraits for free, which the senior Husain refused to do and became a target.

In a revelation that strengthens people’s perception about the political class, Shamshad Husain, son of eminent painter MF Husain, said several political leaders wanted his father to paint their portraits for free, which the senior Husain refused to do and became a target.

Though, Shamshad refrained from taking names, he said his father was on several occasions asked for such favours. In Aligarh to attend a national seminar organised by Aligarh Muslim University, Shamshad spoke to HT about MF Husain’s struggle prior to becoming one of India’s most acclaimed painters.

“People opposed him and his paintings because he was a Muslim. He would not have received such a hostile treatment if he belonged to any other religion,” he said. Shamshad said his father was a thorough gentleman. “My father paid close to `21 crore as tax, far more then paid by several film stars,” he said.