User:Sandeep Boyat/sandbox

we all love Bollywood and our movie stars. Sandeep Boyat’s passion goes a little deeper. He  has collected around 300 stamps of actors, actresses, directors, producers, singers, musicians and musical instruments. He attributes his passion for films to his father.

father used to work as a cameraman and junior artist in the Hindi film industry. So our talks and discussions at home too revolved around cinema,” says Boyat, who has followed in his father’s footsteps and works in the film industry.

The Pune-based collector started collecting stamps after he realised that it’s not possible for the common man to meet the stars. “Four years back, I decided to collect stamps, which is my way of paying respect to the stars,” he adds.

Boyat, who is hugely attracted towards the industry, has been watching all genres of films since a young age. “When I watch a film, I know the singers, director and producer,” says the cameraman, adding that his collection includes stamps of veteran actors like Raj Kapoor, Madhubala, Kishore Kumar and many others.

“I have the first stamp issued by the Government of India in 1947 in my collection,” he says, talking with evident pride about his place in India Book of Records. “I had got the record of collecting the highest number of stamps in April 2016,” he says.

collecting these stamps has not been an easy task for Boyat.

“We used to get stamps in the ’70s and ’80s but not anymore. So I have been travelling and collecting these stamps from private collectors and exhibitions. It’s a big challenge to find out where these stamps are available,” he says, adding, “I do not mind paying more for these stamps because collecting them is my passion.”

Boyat says that it’s not just the common man but even actors have appreciated his efforts. “I have met many actors like Dharmendra-ji. They have always supported my efforts. Besides many people, who are not aware about such stamps get excited when they see my collection. Many youngsters are aware that stamps are issued in the names of big leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, B R Ambedkar and so on. But they don’t know that cine artists too have stamps issued in their name,” he points out.

collecting these stamps has not been an easy task for Boyat.

“We used to get stamps in the ’70s and ’80s but not anymore. So I have been travelling and collecting these stamps from private collectors and exhibitions. It’s a big challenge to find out where these stamps are available,” he says, adding, “I do not mind paying more for these stamps because collecting them is my passion.”

Boyat says that it’s not just the common man but even actors have appreciated his efforts. “I have met many actors like Dharmendra-ji. They have always supported my efforts. Besides many people, who are not aware about such stamps get excited when they see my collection. Many youngsters are aware that stamps are issued in the names of big leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, B R Ambedkar and so on. But they don’t know that cine artists too have stamps issued in their name,” he points out.