In a town where coal and steel typically steal the headlines, a quiet artistic revolution continues to simmer within the shimmering walls of a private Sheesh Mahal. Sculptor Sushanta Roy, already a household name in the wax world, has now sculpted his way into the stars— quite literally. On Sunday, Roy unveiled what is believed to be the first wax statue of astronaut Sunita Williams.
Installed in his homegrown wax museum in Asansol, the statue was officially inaugurated by State Minister Malay Ghatak, with District Magistrate S. Ponnavalam and other dignitaries in tow. The event drew a large crowd — some curious, some awestruck, all with their phones in selfie mode — as the likeness of the space-faring icon took center stage.
Roy, who has previously carved wax wonders for Kolkata’s famed Mother Wax Museum and even Jaipur’s wax sanctum, called this his most ambitious and personal project yet. “She came back from space after a nine-month battle against isolation and the elements,” said Roy, eyes gleaming with reverence, adding, “This statue is not just a tribute— it’s a symbol of resilience and courage.”
Crafted over a period of nearly six weeks, the statue’s unveiling was delayed by an unusual challenge— authentic attire. Roy’s quest for space suit precision led him all the way to NASA— but bureaucracy proved more vast than the cosmos. It wasn’t until a friend in America helped source the outfit that the project could launch.
“The clothes came from America— not just any costume, but for accurate detailing,” Roy emphasised, underscoring the artistic integrity baked into every fiber.
Roy’s wax museum — housed inside a palatial Sheesh Mahal built right into his home — is already a shrine to luminaries both national and international. It features lifelike renditions of legends like Amitabh Bachchan, Lata Mangeshkar, Sushant Singh Rajput, Shahrukh Khan, Subhas Chandra Bose, Mamata Banerjee and more. But this new addition — a celestial one — marks a giant leap for the museum’s narrative.
District Magistrate Ponnavalam, visibly moved during the unveiling, remarked, “This is my first visit and I am stunned. The statues seem to breathe. Sunita Williams is no longer just an international icon— she now lives among us in Asansol.”
The crowd’s verdict? Unanimous awe. “He made the statue 100 percent correctly,” one visitor said with pride. “Sushant Roy is not just the pride of Asansol— he’s India’s Michelangelo in wax.”
With the new waxen avatar of Sunita Williams glistening under curated lights, Roy’s museum continues to blur the line between art and life—reminding visitors that even the stars can be captured in wax, if only one dares to dream big enough.
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