On Saturday, 30 May, in Baner, rows of miniature Ferraris, Porsches, rally cars and classic racers sat neatly arranged on tables, drawing crowds of enthusiasts who peered closely at tiny details most people would miss. But the die-cast meetup organised by Tiny Motors Guild was about much more than miniature automobiles. Some visitors arrived carrying carefully curated collections worth years of effort. Others came to display prized models that reflected their personalities and passions. Many were simply curious, wandering between displays to understand why hundreds of people had gathered around what outsiders might dismiss as toy cars.
Within just hours, the venue had transformed into a bustling community hub, bringing together more than 450 collectors, hobbyists and automotive enthusiasts from across age groups. Children were smitten by miniature supercars while veteran collectors swapped stories and compared rare finds. For many, the event was proof that die-cast collecting in India is no longer a niche pursuit.
Growing Interest in Die-Cast Collecting
"We started with around 15 to 20 people at our early meetups," said Shubham Sundrani, a software engineer and die-cast collector. "The last meetup had around 300 people, and today we've crossed 450. It shows how much interest there is in this hobby." Sundrani believes much of the hobby's appeal lies in the emotional connection collectors have with automobiles. For some, die-cast models are miniature versions of dream cars they may never own. For others, they represent childhood memories brought back to life. He also points to something increasingly rare in a digital-first world: the ability to physically interact with an object. "Being able to touch, hold and experience a model is completely different from seeing it on a screen," he said.
Diverse Collections on Display
Among those displaying their collections was commercial photographer Shardul Nandedkar, whose table stood out for its striking Gulf-liveried race cars arranged in carefully coordinated colours. Having returned to collecting in 2017 after owning toy cars as a child in the 1990s, Nandedkar now describes himself as a focused collector, with more than 250 Gulf-themed models in his collection. For him, events like these showcase the diversity within the hobby. "The spectrum is very wide. People from the ages of 10 to 70 have come here. It isn't just for kids. Anyone who loves automobiles can find something that appeals to them," he said.
Veteran Collector Reflects on Decades of Passion
Perhaps no one embodied the hobby's long history in India better than veteran collector Adil Jal Darukhanawala, who has been collecting model cars since 1972. Reflecting on more than five decades in the hobby, he recalled a time when acquiring a model often depended on relatives travelling abroad and bringing one back in their luggage. Back then, gatherings like the one in Baner would have been difficult to imagine. Today, he sees a thriving new generation of enthusiasts entering the community. Asked whether younger collectors differ from those of his generation, Darukhanawala replied, "I see myself in them." For him, the attraction remains unchanged across decades. "It is such a happy, positive drug for people to be invested in this hobby."
As visitors continued browsing tables, exchanging recommendations and photographing rare models, the Baner meetup felt less like a collectors' event and more like a gathering built around shared enthusiasm. The cars may have been miniature, but the sense of community on display was anything but.
