Srinivasa Gupta, 57, pictured next to the life-size statue of his late wife, Madhavi Gupta, who was killed in a car crash three years ago

An Indian widower has commissioned a lifelike statue of his late wife after she was killed in a car crash. 

The statue holds pride of place in a bungalow in Koppal, in the Indian state of Karnataka, that Srinivasa Gupta, 57, built in his wife’s honour.  

Madhavi Gupta was killed in a car crash three years ago. Prior to her death, she had reportedly dreamed of having a bungalow.

Gupta set about making the bungalow a reality to honour his wife, a year after her death. 

Srinivasa Gupta, 57, pictured next to the life-size statue of his late wife, Madhavi Gupta, who was killed in a car crash three years ago

He held discussions with 25 architects, one of whom, Mahesh Rangannadavaru, suggested the idea of the life-size statue, according to a report in The News Minute

On August 8, guests were invited to the housewarming ceremony at Srinivasa Gupta’s residence. They were left astounded at the statue’s striking resemblence to Gupta’s late wife. 

“Everyone was so surprised,” he said. 

Madhavi Gupta's statue pictured above. Prior to her death, Madhavi had reportedly dreamed of having a bungalow

“They all believed for a few seconds that it could actually be my wife.

“I wanted to do something special in memory of my wife. She died three years ago in a car accident,” Gupta told the publication, adding: “This is the kind of gesture I was looking for. I placed the order about a year ago. 

“I gave them several pictures of my wife. She looks so real.”

Madhavi was killed in a fatal car accident three years ago which also involved the couple’s daughters, who sustained minor injuries.