Her work has enhanced numerous faces, magazine covers and ads. An IIFA award and the title Official Beauty Expert for L'Oréal Paris are just a couple of feathers in her cap. Make-up artist Namrata Soni has worked with the likes of Shah Rukh Khan, Deepika Padukone, Preity Zinta, Tabu, Salman Khan, Arjun Rampal and Asin. Her contribution to the Cannes Film Festival this year is L’Oreal Paris’ Indian brand ambassadors Aishwarya Rai, Freida Pinto and Sonam Kapoor sported one of the six Bollywood-inspired looks created by her. From the retro Miss Twist look and glamorous Enchantress to the bold Blockbuster look, the six looks were a tribute to Bollywood’s trendsetters. Namrata shares insights into the make-up industry and what’s in vogue in Bollywood…
Which actors inspired the looks?
They were inspired by the leading ladies of the past — Sharmila Tagore, Saira Banu, Rekha, Vyjayanthimala and Waheeda Rehman.
What’s the make-up trend in Bollywood today?
Today, you can tweak the classic liners and give them a modern twist Colour plays an important role. Our actresses are not scared to sport stunning lip colours, orange, pink or gold, or striking eye make-up whether it’s blue, gold or green.
In keeping with the ‘100 years of Bollywood’ theme, how has the make-up scene changed?
When I started out in the industry the only make-up used was pancake — the stick and powder washed with water on the skin.
Today, you use liquid foundation, cream eye shadow, smudged eye make-up, stains on the lip and cheek... and it works on screen. This is because we are shooting with high-definition cameras, Blu-ray, 3D and so on; so you too have to evolve with technology. Also, you can see many actors sporting a “no make-up” look. The girls have become a lot more confident about their natural beauty.
What about recognition?
Though make-up artists are behind-the-scenes, we are getting the recognition we deserve. We contribute in a major way to how an actor looks.
As a make-up artist, what is your ultimate goal?
I want to do prosthetic make-up on a much larger scale. I did win an IIFA for prosthetics in Om Shanti Om but that is only a small job. I want to be able to make monsters and aliens. That’s my goal.
The most underrated make-up technique…
Flick-out or winged liner. A lot of women are afraid to do it; it doesn’t have to be exaggerated or over-the-top. And the red lip. I say this in all my interviews that there is a red out there for every woman and every skin tone. Red can be worn in different ways — full-on lipstick or a stain on the lip. It does not always have to be lip liner, gloss or lipstick.
What are the colours of the season?
Green is the colour of the season. It can be worn in many different ways — as an eye shadow, liner or a smudge around the corners of your eyes. In lipsticks, pink is back — fuchsia and neon. And skin is nude, matte and beautiful.
