The Beginning I was born in Hyderabad but was schooled in Thane. Then as the Gulf War gained momentum, my dad left the Middle East and the family relocated to Hyderabad. I completed my B.A. in English Literature, Political Science and World History and immediately took up a job at HSBC for a UK tele-banking position. After two years, I worked elsewhere in an online gaming (read gambling) company that collected player debt and cashed out winnings, all the while taking on small makeup jobs over the weekends to gather experience and skill. I knew I’d be good at it because I used to paint oil on canvas as a hobby, and a makeup artist friend Sachin Dakoji introduced me to makeup and encouraged me to keep at it. I finally worked at Google AdWords where we made advertisers’ sponsored ads that you see on the right hand side of every search page, before I decided to move back to Bombay to pursue a career in Makeup.

(Pursuing a career in makeup) was an impulsive decision, and a personal one. It was a result of my coming out to my family. Hyderabad is really not the city for any young gay individual fighting with his/her sexuality. I had no idea what to expect, but I was ready to slum it out.

I got a good job at M.A.C cosmetics after applying for an interview. It was a long shot, but I felt confident that something would work in my favour. I thought they’d teach us more about makeup, but it was pretty much a sales job. We mostly learned product information, and basics in makeup but we also got to meet fabulous personalities through the job. After nine months, I was unemployed for over a year, the most trying phase of my career. Slowly things began to come my way, and I developed a sense of how to mould and shape my career. It has been seven years now as a freelance artist, and there’s just no looking back.

Moment There was a moment couple years ago when I got into the habit of constantly checking style blogs for user comments on a job I did on my celebrity clients. I think seeking acknowledgment and feedback comes naturally to any sentient being. And even when I was most pleased with my work, there would be vicious comments from internet trolls that knew about neither hair nor makeup. For a while I was hurt, then I decided to apply that feedback to my life. I just started playing it safe and trying to make most women commercially likeable and relatable. Bollywood, needless to say, loves a characterless image, so it was cool. But I felt so absolutely complacent and claustrophobic to do the same pink cheeks and pink lips on everyone I worked with.

I remember shooting the Taj Hotels Calendar during that time with international supermodel Ujjwala Raut. I was making her up on the veranda of the Falaknuma Palace in Hyderabad at the time so we didn’t have a mirror. After I finished her face (painting the same ‘safe’ look in question) she asked for a hand mirror. Once she looked at herself, she went “Oh my God! why so much makeup?! This is exactly what I ran away from in India!” She asked for a wipe and took off the perfect concealer I’d applied and said she felt most beautiful with far less perfect skin. I was really hurt at the time. All I wanted was to impress her and do a good job. But my heart sunk in the moment and I was a little angry. A couple of hours later, when my silly male ego subsided, I was absolutely thankful for her feedback. It was the perspective I’d decided to put on the back burner because of not being able to separate Bollywood from my own artistic sensibilities.

I vowed to myself to stop caring about unwarranted opinion, and just enjoy what I believed in.

I also attribute this positive growth to my dear friend Manou. He gave me honest feedback when no one else did, about how my work had become complacent and boring. It’s natural to feel hurt and anger immediately, because we are creative people who put our hearts and souls into our work. But if we can process that into appreciation and introspection, there’s nothing quite like it.

Digital references wearabout, kultureshop, YouTube, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram

People  My BFF street-artist Jas Charanjiva for her aura and positive, loving personality. Blogger Manou for his incredible talent and spirit. Musician and actor Monica Dogra for just being the beautiful human being she is. My aunt Pamela Wadia for just being so darned cute (stop sending me food Aunty!) and my partner whose love has made my life come full circle.

One more thing Love and sex is incredibly life-affirming. Enjoy it responsibly and let it help you flourish.

Work I’ve worked with almost every notable Indian magazine there is. I’m really looking forward to Vogue’s biggest fashion spread in March 2014. While Elle remains my favourite Indian fashion magazine, I also truly enjoy working with my friends at Grazia. The Taj Calendar I mentioned earlier was also a huge deal shot by the internationally acclaimed Daniella Federici. Some of my favourite work was shot with China’s biggest magazine publication. The shoot was an advertorial for Chanel’s ‘Bombay-Paris’ collection about a woman locked up with nothing but madness to keep her company. I absolutely love that shoot. Working with stylist and milliner Little Shilpa is always fantastic and memorable.

The way a woman moves and conducts herself inspires me greatly. My model friend Nidhi Sunil is striking. Her energy and beauty truly inspires me, so I love everything we pull together. I’m very proud to have worked on the cover of American Conde Nast Traveller. I’ve worked on a fantastic actor Lakshmi Manchu in South India’s first ever Walt Disney film. My film by Onir titled ‘I AM’ won the national award a couple years ago … that was a fantastic experience with respected veteran actors like Manisha Koirala, Juhi Chawla, Sanjay Suri, Nandita Das, Shernaz Patel etc. Just this week, I worked on a music video for my darling friend and incredible musician Monica Dogra. I also happen to be in the video with her… it’s going to be so memorable! I’ve also collaborated with brands like Puma, Lays, Provogue, Idea, Wella, Fasttrack, Globus, Marie Biscuits, Hermes, Kiah, Sunsilk, Canon, Samsung, Vivel, Kalanjali, Splash, FiamaDiWills, AnitaDongre, RoohAfza, Dabur Vaatika, MTS and several others.

Above:  photography | Feng Hai     source | Chanel advertorial for LifeStyle China

Above: photography | Nader Bilgrami   source | TVS Splash calendar

Above: photography | Vishesh Verma  source | Grazia

Above: photography | Aneev Rao Kombrabail  source | Maxim

Above: photography | Manoj Jadhav  source | Filmfare

Above: photography | Prabhat Shetty  source | Vogue

Above: photography | Prabhat Shetty source | Nanotel boutique hotels

Above: photography | Elton Fernandez  source | sari by Kalanjali

Above: photography | Bikramjit Bose  source | Grazia

Above: photography | Bikramjit Bose  source | Mans World