Make-up time conversations

Shashikant Mhatre, introduces himself to me as I move around at the studio in Filmistan. He is thrilled that I am going to present Koli cuisine. He tells me he is from Uran so my Alibag roots make him smile. He asks me many questions so I turn it around on him when we sit down for make up. I ask him how many years he has been making people look good on screen. He has been loyal to B. R. Chopra's for 44yrs. Being related to Pandhari Juker the legendary make up artist inspired him to give himself into this career. He has an award for the film Nikaah (1982) featuring Salma Agha, Raj Babbar and Deepak Parasher. If you think all the Pandav and Kaurav looked good then it was him doing magic in Mahabharat. He has worked with almost every star in Bollywood. I felt privileged today.

He worked on my face with his fingers, blending colours and drawing lines, then lightly rubbing the colors to tone my skin. I was watching his emotions as he signalled to look up then down and at mascara time to look straight at his hand held at eye level. Final touches almost magical with brushes. Dada you use your hands I stated my observation, I am an artist he said. My finger temperature and your skin temperature will give best results in blending tones. There is new technology in make-up but nothing beats working with the hand.

Tikli? He asked me. Yes I will wear it. He got me a big bindi. This will look nice on your broad forehead. With that he smiled to himself as if approving his finishing touches and sent me off to the sets.

This pic is of Shashikant Mhatre doing make up for Salma Agha on the sets of Nikaah that won him the award.