Painted Faces, Unpainted Dreams: The Inspiring Stories of Mumbai's Street Artists

In a moving expose, faceless performers in Mumbai share their motivational stories. Prashant Mohanty, a 21-year-old Odisha-born aspiring actor, wears a Mickey Mouse costume on Carter Road, dancing to pop and Bollywood music while chasing his dreams of acting. Vishal Sharma, the "Silver Man" of Bandstand, recounts his path from TikTok stardom to struggling street performer, keeping his hopes up for a big break. Deep Kumawat, a 22-year-old wedding photographer from Udaipur, performs secretly as Jerry Mouse and Teddy Bear to support his singing dreams. These behind-the-scenes heroes exemplify the stamina and enthusiasm powering Mumbai's lively street entertainment world, reminding us of the human narratives behind the masks and uniforms that light up people's faces as they go about their daily lives.

 

Source: Sunday Mid-Day, March 2, 2025