Indian art is known for its rich heritage, bold colours, detailed ornaments, expressive faces, and cultural storytelling. Among its legendary contributors, Mistry Dhurandhar—also known as Ravi Varma Dhurandhar or Dhurandhar Mistry Style—is famous for his traditional Indian portrait illustrations featuring:
- Deep expressive eyes
- Smooth shading
- Royal clothing
- Intricate jewellery
- Indian classical aesthetics
- Hand-drawn painting style
Today, thanks to AI tools, photo editors, and digital techniques, anyone can create a Dhurandhar-style photo without professional painting experience.
Whether you’re a photographer, editor, designer, social media creator, or someone who wants a traditional Indian painting-style portrait, this guide will teach you every step, every tool, and every trick to create the perfect Dhurandhar-style photo in 2025.
This blog post covers:
- What Dhurandhar style is
- Why it is trending
- The best AI tools to generate this style
- Manual editing techniques for more realism
- Pro tips to make your artwork look authentic
- SEO-ready keywords
- Export, printing, and sharing tips
Let’s begin.
1. What is Dhurandhar Style Photo?
A Dhurandhar-style photo is a modern digital recreation inspired by the artistic style of the historic Indian painter Shri M. V. Dhurandhar. Known for his illustrations in mythological stories, old Indian magazines, and traditional portraits, Dhurandhar used:
- Fine brush strokes
- Smooth gradients
- Rich Indian skin tones
- Soft lighting
- Traditional outfits such as saree, kurta, sherwani
- Realistic yet artistic facial structure
- Classic Indian jewelry
- Symbolic backgrounds
The style is a mixture of heritage + realism + cultural beauty, which makes it popular for:
- Instagram portrait edits
- Wedding portraits
- Traditional festival photos
- AI-generated Indian artwork
- Profile pictures
- Print posters
2. Why is Dhurandhar Style Trending in 2025?
The Dhurandhar art trend exploded on social media thanks to:
✓ AI filters & apps
Platforms like CapCut AI, Adobe AI, and web-based AI generators made it easy to create painting-like portraits.
✓ Cultural Revival Trend
2024–2025 saw a rise in:
- Indian classical fashion
- Traditional photography
- Royal-themed photoshoots
✓ Perfect for Festivals
People create Dhurandhar-style photos for:
- Weddings
- Navratri
- Holi
- Diwali
- Ganesh Chaturthi
- Durga Puja
✓ Printable Art
Many print their AI photos as:
- Posters
- Canvas art
- Wall frames
✓ Social Media Viral Appeal
Reels with Indian painting styles get millions of views.
3. Tools You Need to Create Dhurandhar Style Photo
There are 3 categories:
A. AI Tools (Fastest Method)
These generate the style automatically from your photo:
1. Midjourney
Excellent for artistic Indian portrait styles.
2. Leonardo AI
Very detailed textures and lighting.
3. BlueWillow / Lexica AI
Budget-friendly AI platforms.
4. Bing Image Creator (Free)
Great for free, quick results.
5. Khroma AI / Fotor AI
User-friendly and beginner-friendly.
B. Mobile Editing Apps
Perfect if you want to edit on smartphone:
- PicsArt
- Lightroom
- CapCut Photo Editing
- Remini AI
- Meitu
- Snapseed
- PhotoLab AI Art
- Prequel App (Vintage/Art Effects)
C. Professional Software
For advanced custom editing:
- Adobe Photoshop
- Procreate (iPad)
- Illustrator (for vector-style Dhurandhar art)
- Adobe Lightroom
4. How to Create Dhurandhar Style Photo Using AI (Easiest Method)
This is the fastest and most accurate way.
Step 1 — Choose a Clear Portrait Photo
Your photo should be:
- High resolution
- Clear face
- Good lighting
- Traditional clothing (optional)
Ideal angles:
- Close-up
- Half-body
- Full-body (if you want traditional outfits added)
Step 2 — Open an AI Generator
Choose one:
- Midjourney
- Leonardo AI
- Bing Image Creator
- Image-to-Image tools
Step 3 — Use a Dhurandhar-Style Prompt
Here is a powerful prompt:
“Create a traditional Indian Dhurandhar-style portrait painting, realistic Indian woman/man, expressive eyes, warm skin tones, soft brush strokes, classical Indian lighting, intricate jewelry, saree/sherwani, vintage background, highly detailed, artistic illustration, Ravi Varma Dhurandhar painting style, 4K quality.”
Optional additions:
- “Royal background”
- “Temple elements”
- “Golden glow”
- “Old Indian painting texture”
Step 4 — Upload Image (Image-to-Image Mode)
Upload your original picture.
AI will convert it into the Dhurandhar style while maintaining:
- Face
- Pose
- Expression
Step 5 — Adjust the Output
Modify:
- Brush realism
- Saturation
- Smoothness
- Background details
Step 6 — Download in HD
Export in:
- 1080p
- 2K
- 4K (best for printing)
5. How to Create Dhurandhar Style Photo Using Mobile Apps (Manual Editing)
If AI doesn’t give you perfect results, you can manually create the style.
Step-by-Step Guide Using PicsArt + Lightroom + CapCut
Step 1: Open PicsArt
Apply:
- Cartoon effect
- Portrait art filter
- Oil painting preset
Adjust:
- 30–40% smoothness
- 20% contrast
- 15% saturation
Step 2: Add Texture
Go to “Texture” → Select:
- Canvas
- Grain
- Vintage paper
- Watercolor effect
Reduce opacity to 20–35%.
Step 3: Add Indian Elements
Use PicsArt stickers:
- Jewelry
- Bindi
- Nose ring
- Dupatta/Saree patterns
- Turban/Safa
- Traditional ornaments
Step 4: Open Lightroom for Color Grading
Use these settings:
- Temp: +12 warm
- Tint: +6
- Contrast: +10
- Highlights: -20
- Shadows: +30
- Clarity: -10
- Vibrance: +15
This gives a soft painted look.
Step 5: Open in CapCut for Final Touch
Use:
- AI Enhancer
- Skin smoothing
- Highlights glow
- Vignette
- Vintage filter
Step 6: Export in High Quality
Select:
- 1080p
- 4K export option (if available)
6. How to Create Dhurandhar Style Photo Using Photoshop (Pro Method)
For advanced editors who want real artistic control.
Step 1: Open Image in Photoshop
Crop it into a portrait format.
Step 2: Smooth Skin Manually
Use:
- Mixer Brush
- Surface Blur
- Dodge & Burn
This mimics hand-painted textures.
Step 3: Add Brush Stroke Texture
Go to:
- Filter
- Stylize → Oil Paint
- Artistic → Dry Brush
Adjust intensity.
Step 4: Add Traditional Colors
Use:
- Warm orange
- Soft yellow
- Brown tones
Indian artwork uses earthy + golden palette.
Step 5: Add Jewelry Painting
Manually draw small highlights using:
- Pen tool
- Brush tool
- Gold color (#FFD700)
Step 6: Add Background
Prompt:
“Create an ultra-realistic cinematic portrait of a man standing in a desert. He is wearing a black outfit with a black blazer, black shirt, and dark sunglasses. His hair is styled back with natural volume. The man stands with both hands slightly open to the sides, giving a confident ‘what can l say’ expression.Place a vintage white SUV behind him, slightly blurred.Use warm desert lighting with soft haze for a movie-scene effect.Capture the exact pose, attitude, and camera angle seen in the reference image.Use the uploaded face exactly as it is – same features, same structure, same expression, no changes.Make the frame slightly wider and taller so that more body and background appear.High resolution, 8K detail, sharp skin texture, film-grade color grading, hyper-realistic.”
Classic Dhurandhar backgrounds include:
- Temples
- Vintage walls
- Floral patterns
- Royal palace textures
Step 7: Final Color Grading
Use:
- Color Balance
- Gradient Map
- LUTs
Export the final photo.
Prompt:
A cinematic scene of a confident man walking forward.His face and hairstyle should match the reference image– same hair as refrence image, mature facial structure, sharp jawline, and composed hero-like expression.He is wearing a black traditional outfit layered with a long black coat and sunglasses, making a signature hand gesture near his face while walking.Behind him, two men in rustic cultural attire follow slightly blurred for depth, and one elderly man in traditional turbaned clothing stands to his side.Dusty neutral background, desert-light ambience, soft warm tones, dramatic slow-motion atmosphere, 8Kultra-realism, cinematic color grading, heroic swagger and mass-appeal entry shot.
7. Best Outfit Ideas for Dhurandhar Style Photos
To get perfect results, choose the right outfits:
For Women
- Saree
- Lehenga
- Banarasi saree
- Silk dupatta
- Temple jewelry
- Nath
- Jhumka
- Kundan set
Prompt:
Hyper realistic 8k resolution, natural photo.A real behind-the-scenes film shoot photo from the movie “Dhurandhar”, outdoor location, daylight, natural cinematic lighting, shallow depth of field, realistic shadows, Three people standing together naturally. Center – Me:Face exactly same as my reference photoOutfit: black denim jacket, black t-shirt, black baggy jeans, chunky white sneakers.Slight smile, relaxed natural pose.Left side Actor 1: Face exactly same as reference image. Same hairstyle as reference. Outfit: black kurta, black pajama, black stole/scarf, black outer layer.Black rectangular sunglasses. Right side – Actor 2: Face exactly same as reference image.Same long hairstyle and same beard as reference. Outfit: brown traditional kurta and brown salwar.Brown boots. Black aviator sunglasses. All outfits, hairstyles and sunglasses must be exactly the same as reference images. all faces match refrences images
For Men
- Kurta
- Sherwani
- Turban
- Mala
- Royal Indian coat
Hair & Makeup
- Classic bun
- Braids
- Gajra (flowers)
- Bold eyeliner
- Red bindi
8. Background Ideas for Dhurandhar Style Photo
The background is very important.
Best options:
- Vintage Indian wallpaper
- Palace textures
- Temple carvings
- Lotus patterns
- Sun rays
- Old painting canvas
- Hand-drawn floral artwork
9. Pro Tips for Authentic Dhurandhar Style Look
✓ Use Warm Light
Dhurandhar art uses golden-yellow tones.
✓ Reduce Sharpness
Paintings are soft, not crispy.
✓ Add Subtle Grain
Creates a traditional painted texture.
✓ Avoid Over-Smoothing
You want brush textures, not plastic skin.
✓ Use Gold Highlights
This is essential for jewelry.
✓ Keep Expressions Soft
Serene, calm expressions look best.
10. Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Overusing Filters
Keep the edit natural.
❌ Incorrect Skin Tone
Avoid pale or oversaturated tones.
❌ Wrong Outfits
T-shirts or western clothes break the Dhurandhar look.
❌ HD Background with Soft Portrait
Match both textures.
❌ Too Many Effects
Simplicity = beauty.
11. How to Print Your Dhurandhar Style Photo
If you want to frame or gift the portrait, use:
Print Sizes
- A4
- A3
- 12×18
- 16×24 (poster size)
Paper Types
- Canvas
- Matte
- Textured artboard
Resolution
Minimum 300 DPI.
Conclusion
Creating a Dhurandhar Style Photo is one of the most beautiful ways to transform your picture into a timeless piece of Indian heritage artwork. Whether you use AI tools, mobile apps, or professional software, achieving this royal, traditional, and artistic effect is now easier than ever.
You can customize the look to match:
- Weddings
- Festivals
- Social media posts
- Profile photos
- Poster printing
- Gifts
- Cultural themes
With the steps, tips, and tools given in this guide, you now have everything you need to create stunning Dhurandhar-style portraits that look like real traditional paintings.
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