LONDON: Prime Minister Narendra Modi willjoin the ranks of prominent global leaders at Madame Tussaudsin London, Singapore, Hong Kong and Bangkok next month, theworld famous wax museum announced today.
Describing him as a "hugely important figure in worldpolitics", the museum said the Indian Prime Minister had giventhe museum's team of artists and experts a sitting at hisresidence in New Delhi earlier this year.
"Madame Tussauds has crafted figures of verydistinguished dignitaries from around the world - how could Iregard myself worthy of being alongside them? But when I wasinformed that your decision had emanated from public opinionand public sentiment, I was comforted," Modi said in astatement to the museum.
"During my sitting, I observed the team carefully and wasdeeply impressed by its dedication, professionalism and skill.
I have visited Madame Tussauds three or four times and had thepleasure of getting myself photographed standing next to thefigures of various dignitaries," he said.
The wax figures at each of the museum's locations aroundEurope and Asia will be dressed in Modi's "signature kurta" incream with a jacket and he will be featured in a traditionalpose "making a namaste gesture".
"Prime Minister Modi is a hugely important figure inworld politics, a position supported by his place in the top10 of Time Magazine's Person of the Year List 2015," saidmuseum spokesperson Kieran Lancini.
"His massive social media presence - he is currently thesecond most followed politician on twitter after PresidentObama  also confirms the intense interest the public have inhim, a fact supported by the requests our guests have made forus to create his figure.
We are delighted to be including the Prime Minister'sfigure in our attractions in London, Singapore, Hong Kong andBangkok," he said.
Each figure took a team of Madame Tussauds' artists fourmonths and cost around 150,000 pounds to create.
"Guests will be able to stand shoulder to shoulder andmeasure up to one of the most powerful men in the world  andeven grab a selfie when the figures arrive in theirlocations," the museum said.
The launch in London and all other centres is expectedaround late April and it is yet to be confirmed if Modi wouldbe personally unveiling himself in wax at any of the fourlocations.
A new branch of Madame Tussauds is also set to open inNew Delhi as part of the India-UK Year of Culture in 2017,announced during Prime Minister Modi's visit to the UK lastNovember.
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