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Roshni

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Rocker

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Posted: 18 years ago

< content=07/10/2007 name=date>

If we can have a woman Prime Minister, why can't we have female make-up artists, asks Farah Khan

Back to Section Stories Posted On Tuesday, July 10, 2007


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Ashwini Deshmukh

A still from Farah Khan's Om Shanti Om

Recently, director-choreographer Farah Khan wanted a make-up artist called Namrata to work on the characters of Om Shanti Om, but the head of the make-up artist's union raised an objection because she is a woman.

The union has a rule against allowing female make-up artists to work in the industry.

"Finally, Farah gave in, however, she got Namrata to work on the special effects, when her characters age," says an insider

Adds an industry source, "During Dil Chahta Hai, there were so times when the female make up artists had to be hidden whenever union members barged in to create a ruckus."

Make-up artists and even production houses are afraid of the union members who threaten to create complications in the shoot if a female make-up artist is hired, says an assistant director.

"It's against the constitution to discriminate anyone based on their gender," says Farah, "I had to fight to get Namrata to be a part of my film. Last time she did the hair, but this time I wanted her to do the make-up as well.

"Had she headed the make-up artists in my film, there were possibilities that the assistants [men] wouldn't have been available or obeyed her instructions. It's funny that a woman can travel in space, but she cannot do make up in a film."

Farah says even the Indian Motion Pictures Association (IMPA) is not willing to do anything about the men who create these restrictions. "This rule seems 200 years old, and I'm not going to let my film suffer," she says.

Though Farah says she's willing to support these women in every way, she thinks the women need to stand up for themselves.

"Here I, a woman," she says, "am making a Rs 40-crore film, but I am not allowed to hire a woman for the make up. The next president of India could be a female, we had a lady prime minister but this is the state of women still.

"A woman cannot be a sperm donor, but besides that, she can be everything."

Pandharidada Juker, who has made up names such as Meena Kumari and Dharmendra over the last 42 years with Yash Raj Films, says that's the way things are.

"Yes, there is a rule that women cannot be make up artists," he says, "We haven't made them members of the association yet. There are around 3,000 male make up artists already, and no woman can just come up and do the make up.

"Actors favour girls, which will create problems for us. Too many men will lose their jobs. Only a court case can change things."

To be a part of the Make-up artists union, one has to get a card made and invest Rs 50,000 to 75,000.

"The union is not at all reasonable," says an assistant director, "Rules are made to safeguard the interests of the older members. They are aggressive, ancient and male-dominated in their approach."

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Frequent Posters

rizwana

@riz k

Inactive

Posted: 18 years ago

women not being able to the make-up how ironic

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Akhansha

@Akhansha

Voyager

Posted: 18 years ago

Thats too much .Whats the proble with make up artists union 😡

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nitu

@nitu07

Inactive

Posted: 18 years ago

stupid people!!! what's wrong with hiring female make up artists 😕 😡

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LoLo

@LoLo

Dazzler

+ 2

Posted: 18 years ago

What year is it?? 😡 This is one of the most sexist, antiquated views I've ever heard. What a shame.

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raunaq

@raunaq

Inactive

Posted: 18 years ago

i am shocked, all this time i thought make up artist used to be females 😕

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mini2390

@mini2390

Inactive

Posted: 18 years ago

Originally posted by: riz k
women not being able to the make-up how ironic

i totally agree!

this is really absurd and wrong!

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Unique

@Terenaina

Trailblazer

+ 4

Posted: 18 years ago

Now, I understand why Aish had a man make-up artist Why can't female be a make-up artist?

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raunaq

@raunaq

Inactive

Posted: 18 years ago

Originally posted by: veryuniquestyle
Now, I understand why Aish had a man make-up artist Why can't female be a make-up artist?

i am shocked too, i always thought they had female make up artists

Edited by raunaq - 18 years ago

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so nice

@solly21

Inactive

Posted: 18 years ago

#10

😡 😡 😡 OMg, the most people who wear make-up are woman, but there have the least number of woman make up artist. Wheres the logic ??? How stupid is the damn board,
Are there living in the 5th century still?????

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