I Am A Makeup Addict

Ace makeup artist Vidya Tikari talks about her journey and what makes her artistry unique.

- Chirag Mohanty Samal

I walk into her makeup studio to find it teeming with trainees practicing their art. A door beyond the hullabaloo leads to makeup artist Vidya Tikari’s cabin, where I find her working on the model's makeup for our shoot. Clad in a comfortable maxi dress, with colourful accessories, a top knot and a septum ring, Vidya looked bohemian and confident—it was apparent that she knew exactly what she was doing.

About 20 minutes later, the model she was working on had transformed into a dewy-fresh and utterly desirable cover girl. Vidya says, “I’ve put together the day look.” When she starts talking, you realise her bohemian-ness filters into her attitude towards her art too—she defies convention, loves experimenting and is a stickler for originality and creativity. No wonder celebrities like Priyanka Chopra, Deepika Padukone, Madhuri Dixit, Katrina Kaif and Sushmita Sen are part of her clientele. She has also worked at the opening and closing ce monies of the Commonwealth Games in 2010, where she prepped 5,000 faces in a day working on the makeup looks for 65 models at the first F1 Grand Prix held in India as another feather in her hat. Apart from these accomplishments, Vidya has worked for beauty pageants, fashion shows, magazine editorials, TV shows, films and bridal shoots. Her eyes light up as she talks about makeup— an indication that her she considers her profession much more than just a job. She confesses, “I am a makeup addict. I began working with makeup at the age of five. My clients then were my cat, dogs and friends! I don’t know what profession I would have chosen if not for makeup artistry.”

THE INITIAL YEARS