Maya

Maya was inspired by her namesake in the movie Kama Sutra. She was the servant with the beauty of a queen ... the beloved of Jai Kumar and the mistress of Raj Singh.

Maya was played by Indira Varma in Kama Sutra

Tara

Tara, the third doll in the Maharajah's Palace series made for Susan Tay. Her dress is inspired by the pink lehenga-choli worn by her namesake in Kama Sutra (see photo below). This is how Susan describes Tara:

Bride and future Maharani, ethereally beautiful but always thinking she is not quite as pretty as Maya nor as talented a dancer. God is fair, I guess, for all of Tara's insecurity, she is filthy rich as you will be able to see from the palace that I am planning for her.

To read more about Susan's Maharajah's Palace, visit:
http://sansdollhousediaries.blogspot.com/
2008/12/my-maharajahs-palace-day-3.html

Tara was played by Sarita Choudhury in Kama Sutra

Raj Singh

Raj Singh is the second doll in the Maharajah's Palace series made for Susan Tay. This is how Susan describes Raj Singh:

A most handsome prince. He loves Maya but will only marry Tara. A philanderer and a hedonist, he spares no expense to acquire all things pleasing to his senses. The palace, their clothes, the furnishings will all be testaments to his expensive taste and his lavish lifestyle.

To read more about the characters as Susan envisions them, visit:

http://sansdollhousediaries.blogspot.com/
2008/12/my-maharajahs-palace-day-3.html

In the movie, Raj Singh is portrayed as an ill-tempered and cruel man, and I was really excited when I was told by friends that the doll has a cruel glint in his eyes!

Raj Singh was played by Naveen Andrews in Kama Sutra

Jai Kumar

Jai Kumar is the first of four dolls I am making for Susan Tay in Singapore, who is set on creating the most fabulous Maharajah's Palace based on the movie Kama Sutra.

This is how Susan described Jai Kumar...

"With the looks and body of a God, Jai is the palace chief artisan and carver and does all the stone works for the palace. He is the Michaelangelo of the Maharajah's Palace . He is also Maya's lover and everyone's dream man. Even Tara had a crush on him when she was a child with no worldly concerns like marrying into the 'right' family."

To read more about the characters as Susan envisions them, visit:
http://sansdollhousediaries.blogspot.com/
2008/12/my-maharajahs-palace-day-3.html

Jai Kumar was played by Ramon Tikaram in Kama Sutra

Urvashi

Urvashi was inspired by her mythical namesake, the most beautiful Apsara in Indra's court. She is dressed in a traditional Bharatanatyam costume and is decked in jewelry from head to toe. She wears flowers in her hair, and her body is adorned with henna.

To see more of my dolls, please visit:
http://flickr.com/photos/smehreen/sets/72157594487324720

Inspiration Photo

Kumari

Inspired by the Royal Kumari of Nepal, my Kumari is dressed in her regal garb of red and gold. She wears her hair in a topknot, and has the agni chakchuu or ‘fire eye’ painted on her forehead as a symbol of her special powers of perception. Kumari was made for Helen in Honeychurch, UK.

The Kumari of Nepal


More Photos of My Kumari

Sunehra

Sunehra and Dev were featured in UK's Dolls House World November '09 Issue #206, and Spain's Miniaturas Issue #143.
http://www.dollshouseworld.com/imag/issue206/pageflip.htm

Keya

I had been saving the single peacock feather in my bead-box forever, and wanted to make the doll that would hold it in her hands. Keya's dress and ornaments are inspired by the jewel tones picked from the peacock feather, which was later turned into a fan with tiny beads creating the handle. Keya will be leaving for Zambia in July as a gift to a friend ...