Short Bytes with Mickey Contractor

MICKEY CONTRACTOR, Bollywood's leading make-up artist, and M.A.C India's Director, speaks on the changing look of Bollywood.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan looking fresh and gorgeous

• How would you describe the look that’s in this year?
  It’s the bare look. I believe less is more. For example, I gave Aishwarya Rai Bachchan fresh, no make-up look for her Lux Provacatuer Launch. She has minimal make-up on, but it appears that she has none, except for eye liner. Make-up now has become subtler than in the eighties. I am waiting for the day when we can do away with false eyelashes and lipsticks when we show an actress mourning or just waking up from bed.
  
  
• You’ve done Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna where you’ve given the actors a glamorous look...
  I’ve worked with Karan Johar in Kuch Kuch Hota Hai and K3G and understand what he requires. I’ve done the look for Rani Mukherjee. I’d given different looks to the two different ladies but I avoided taking up Preity’s part since I did not want it to clash with that of Rani. I usually avoid working with the actresses in the same age group to avoid ego clashes.
  
  
• Have you been approached by filmmakers down South?
  Not until now. I think my budget is slightly higher for them. I’ve noticed that some southern filmmakers like Mani Ratnam have, of late, gone in for the subtle look.
  

• Hypothetically speaking, if you had worked in Devdas, would you have given the lead artists a different look?
  I would have made Paro and Chandramukhi look more authentic.
  

• What are your future projects?
  I work on one film at a time. I’ll be doing Yash Johar’s next production, Tashan; Goldie Behl's Drona; and Harry Baweja's Love Story 2050. I work only with directors and actresses who’re willing to experiment. Stars like Priyanka, Kajol, Aishwarya, and Kareena are very open to trying out different looks. It’s taken me 24 years to succeed in cutting down on heavy make-up. Hopefully, in another five years, I’ll be able to bring in the Hollywood kind of bare, fresh look.