Renowned make-up artist Namrata Soni, who has become a prominent name in the beauty industry, recently reflected on her challenging journey and the support she received from some of Bollywood’s biggest stars, including Salman Khan and Shah Rukh Khan.
Namrata Soni credits Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan for their support in challenging makeup artist restrictions: “Stood by my side. I feel very blessed”
Early Struggles and Union Restrictions
Namrata Soni’s career as a make-up artist has spanned over two decades, during which she has worked with numerous Bollywood celebrities. In an interview with ANI, Namrata recounted the significant hurdles she faced when women were restricted from working as make-up artists in the film industry due to union rules.
“There was a time when women were not allowed to do make-up,” Namrata said. She described her efforts to challenge these restrictions, revealing, “I used to be fighting with the union to be able to work in this industry. It was very hard honestly. I didn’t know how to do it. I remember I used to work at the Film City and my parents would get threatening phone calls saying ‘If your daughter doesn’t stop being a make-up artist, we’re going to cut off her hands.'” Despite the fear and threats, Namrata remained resolute in her pursuit of justice and equality in her field.
“It was not easy to deal with the union. It was very scary, to be honest. Initially, I didn’t know any better. They would say go hide in the vanity car and (we will) tell you when to come back on set. I did that the first two, three times. Then I said, I’m sorry, but I’m going to stand up for myself,” she added.
Support from Bollywood Stars
During these challenging times, Namrata received crucial support from several influential figures in Bollywood. She credited Shah Rukh Khan and Salman Khan, among others, for standing by her side. “I was very blessed and very lucky that I got to work with amazing people like Farah Khan, Karan Johar, Sonam Kapoor, Sameera Reddy, Katrina Kaif who supported me. They said, ‘No, we want to work with her. We are willing to support and willing to fight with her when the union comes on set.’ I was very lucky. I had people like Shah Rukh and Salman who stood by my side… I feel very blessed. I’m glad that I fought,” Namrata shared.
Namrata’s perseverance paid off in 2014 when the Supreme Court ruled against the decades-old practice that restricted women from working as make-up artists in Bollywood.
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