He lived for many years in India where Nehru awarded him the International Award and the Padsha-Bhushan. His paintings of Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, adorn the historic Central Parliament Hall in New Delhi. He was married in 1945 to an Indian movie star Devika Rani known as "The First Lady of the Indian Screen".
He was named an Honorary Academician of the Art Academy of the USSR, and was an honorary member of the Bulgarian Academy of Art.