Celebrity makeup artist Namrata Soni recently revealed the serious threats and discrimination she endured during her early career in Bollywood. Her struggle against a male-dominated industry eventually led to a landmark legal victory, opening doors for women in the field.
Soni recounted her experience in a recent interview, detailing the challenges faced as a female makeup artist. She had to work in secret within vanity vans due to strong opposition from the established union.
The union, predominantly male, actively tried to prevent her from working on film sets. They reportedly threatened producers with fines if they employed her.
This discrimination stemmed from the prevailing norm where men primarily handled makeup and women worked as hairdressers. A woman taking on a makeup artist role was widely considered unacceptable.
The situation escalated to direct threats. Soni stated that she received phone calls at home, warning of physical attacks if she did not cease her work.
She decided to fight back, initiating a legal battle that eventually reached the Supreme Court. Her perseverance was instrumental in paving the way for women to work as makeup artists in the industry.
Throughout her difficult journey, Soni received crucial support from several prominent Bollywood stars. Figures like Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Preity Zinta, Sameera Reddy, and Karan Johar stood by her.
Soni recalled one major actor directly contacting the union. This actor explicitly stated that women should be allowed to work on film sets without obstruction.
A pivotal moment occurred during the production of the film ‘Om Shanti Om.’ When an attempt was made to replace her, director Farah Khan intervened decisively.
Khan made it clear that if no other artist could match Soni’s caliber, there would be no replacement. Soni credits this unwavering support as a turning point in her career.
Over her nearly two-decade career, Namrata Soni has worked with numerous stars on red carpets and major film productions. She received an IIFA Award for her work on Shah Rukh Khan’s look in ‘Om Shanti Om.’
Her significant contributions to makeup artistry have also been recognized with the prestigious Dadasaheb Phalke Award.