Meet Nihas Salahudeen, a man who, through pure willpower and dedication, transformed his hobby into a lucrative job.
Young people who are hesitant to follow their passions can get motivation from Nihas.
Visualise a galaxy and a night sky with purple colours and sparkling stars painted on a helmet.
What if the celestial beauty is combined with an unconnected design?
Nihas Salahudeen, a native of Thiruvananthapuram, is engaged in producing such a dreamlike experience using completely unrelated and fragmented images using an airbrush and automotive paints. Custom motorcycles, superbikes, and helmets, particularly those worn by race car drivers and bike riders, are his preferred medium.
Nihas began his adventure by accepting orders from South-East Asian racers, but he was unable to break into the Indian market until Volkswagen champion Ishaan Dodhiwala gave him access to his helmet. Some of the well-known figures in the game, such as Narain Karthikeyan, Mira Erda, CS Santosh, and many others have hired Nihas’ artistic skills.
Nihas acknowledges that painting helmets is an expensive endeavour. The FIA has examined the helmets before they get to him. Speed and emotion serve as the inspiration for these painstakingly crafted designs. “I take an emotional stance. I make them look fast, even whether the patterns are modest, floral, retro, or stripes,” he claims. Nihal’s dream is to see CMC-branded helmets lining the Indian racetracks.