Bhumi Pednekar : I Use Make-Up As A Tool To Celebrate Myself

In a Bazaar exclusive, actor Bhumi Pednekar speaks about redefining what the term ‘beauty’ stands for, being the first-ever brand ambassador of M·A·C India, and the products she swears by.

- Meghna Sharma

Harper’s Bazaar: What does the power of make-up mean to you?

Bhumi Pednekar: “I think the biggest mistake that people make and believe in is that make-up is applied to conceal one’ flaws. On the contrary, it is about enhancing who you already are.”

HB: What sparked your love affair with beauty?

BP: “I have always been intrigued by the world of beauty. I feel very fortunate to have grown up watching my mom, aunts, and cousins change their appearance as per their moods with the help of make-up. As a young girl, I had access to all the products they used—they never told me to not wear make-up because my parents wanted us [my sister and I] to experiment and have fun. And now, beauty is therapeutic for me. The time I spend in front of the mirror—whether for my daily skincare ritual, or to apply make-up—feels positive. It is like self-care for me, you know, where I am appreciating myself and not looking at my flaws. I don’t treat make-up as a crutch to hide my ‘problem areas’; I use it as a tool to celebrate myself.”

HB: Growing up, were there any beauty rituals you followed religiously?

BP: “Nothing specific, but I have always been conscious about keeping myself hydrated...and I am obsessed with vegetable juices. I believe that if you are healthy on the inside, you will appear healthy on the outside, too.”

HB: You are M·A·C’s first Indian brand ambassador. How does that feel?