Ruhi Bindra - Making the stars shine brighter...

You’d be forgiven for thinking that she is some curious college kid who has wandered onto a high profile movie set. With her youthful spunk, and mischief-laden eyes, she hardly looks like the hard-wired professional that she is. Ruhi Bindra is the woman behind the unique looks of the 'Chak De' girls. Makeup artist to the stars, she adds shine to their glitz, and with the tricks in her bag, makes them look like a million bucks. Her impressive portfolio includes prestigious television campaigns like BPL Mots, Nestle, Polo, Samsung, Mother Dairy, Hutch and Santro.



She barely has time to sit and contemplate the success she has achieved in a very short time. But I caught her online, and she could not refuse a quick question and answer session. She is every bit as adorable as she looks.

Shotcouture: How did you start in the makeup industry?
Ruhi: I always had a flair for Make-up n Hair-Styling since I was a child. I used to do Make-up n Hair Do's on my aunts and cousins when I was just 8 years old. Also I got into Modeling after getting out of school so I always did my own make-up and hair most of the times as I had the knack of it. And then, one fine day in 2004, I just thought of getting into it professionally. I had never been to a Make-up School or done a professional course to begin with. I hadn’t even assisted any Make-up Artist. I just started working on Ads, Music Videos, Press Campaigns, Fashion Magazines, and then work started flowing in. I got my first Bollywood break on the feature “Fanaa” with Yashraj Films and then I did “Thoda Pyaar Thoda Magic”. Then “Chak De” happened, and I got a chance to design the look for all the actors in the entire film. From then on, it’s been a great journey.

Shotcouture: What celebs have you been working with recently?
Ruhi: I recently worked with Gauhar Khan, Shahzan Padamsee, Tisca Chopra, Manjaree Phadnis, Karan Huku, Madhavan, Nisha Jhamval, Avanti Birla, Yash Birla, Shabana Azmi, Mandira Bedi, Shaheen Abbas, Minissha Lamba, Genelia Dsouza, Amrit Maghera, Sheetal Malhar, Diandra Soares, Rita Dodhi, Sarah Jane, Gul Panaag, Ayesha Takia and many more. You will have to log on to my site and check my entire celebrity client list.

Shotcouture: Wow! That reads like the who’s who of the industry! Can you tell us about a memorable moment you had while doing a celebrity's makeup?
Ruhi: Recently I was working with Gauhar Khan's look on Rocket Singh and I remember Shimit Amin had briefed me on her character in the film and had instructed me not to make her look beautiful as the character demanded a garish look. So keeping that in mind I had to try my level best not to make her look pretty but loud and garish. And I remember I had to convince Gauhar everyday on sets while doing her make-up. As each day was even more challenging. I had to keep giving her different looks on the same lines. I had to use heavy bindis, thick layer of base and heavy eye make-up, bright blush, and dark colored lipsticks to bring out her character. This was one of my most recent memorable moments.

Shotcouture: If we took a peek in your makeup kit what would we see?
Ruhi: If u take a peek in my make-up kit u would see loads of make-up: EYESHADOWS, BLUSHES, LIPSTICKS, MOISTURISERS, SHIMMERS, BASE, LOOSE POWDERS, BRUSHES, FACE MIST SPRAY, MAKE-UP FIXER, LASH CURLERS, MASCARAS, KOHL PENCILS IN ALL THE BRIGHT COLORS, GLOSSY EYELINERS, LIP PENCILS, WET MAKE-UP REMOVING TISSUES, NAIL FILERS, NAIL PAINTS, NAIL CUTTER, SCISSORS, FAKE EYE LASHES, STUDIO FIX, PUFFS, SPUNCH, WATER SPRAY, LIP PLUMPERS, LIP LOCKERS, BRONZER SPRAYS, SUN KISSED SPRAYS, ETC

Shotcouture: What sets you apart from other makeup artists?
Ruhi: My minimal base and make-up sets me apart from the other make-up artists. I believe in giving a realistic look as per the requirement of the on screen character.

Shotcouture: How do you keep up with all the new trends and styles? How do you incorporate them into your makeup repertoire?
Ruhi: I always watch the Golden Globe and Oscar Awards, International fashion channels, Vogue and all the Ace Fashion magazines. I always keep myself updated with the new trends and styles. Even when I travel abroad I pick up loads of make-up and funky hair accessories. I always get fascinated with new trends and make sure they are in my make-up kit before anybody is even aware of it.
No wonder this pretty lass is headed for the Bollywood hall of fame. Bringing back realism to make-up, and understanding character traits has given Ruhi an edge that film-makers now recognize. Making her one of the most “in-demand” artists in the industry. Here is wishing this very talented girl a great future in Bollywood and beyond!

My Chic Blue Top For the Fashion Week

I have had this cool blue Atmosphere top for some time now. I love how versatile it is. For the Lakme Fashion Week Show, I teamed it with jeans, for a casual but chic daytime look. With a pencil skirt and the right accessories, it makes perfect evening wear. I love the color and the beautiful silver details on the wide neck.




And thank you dear Anya, from Couture Millinery Atelier For the beautiful "Doll Face" award. Thank you so much! You made my day...

Lakme Fashion Week Summer Resort 2010 - Day 3 - Vijay Balhara - Borala Nautch

Flamboyant and vibrant, Vijay Balhara’s Collection “Borala Nautch” had every bit the fun element expected from the young designer. “Borala” means a traditional headgear of the Northern Women, while “Nautch” is derived from the Sanskrit word for dance: Nritya.
“Naach” was a popular dance style performed by young girls known as “Nautch Girls”. The culture of the performing art of Nautch rose to prominence during the later period of Mughal Empire, and the Company Rule . Dance as a form of entertainment and art was a rage with the Princely states and Nawabs. “Borala” was extensively used as a headgear in Vijay’s collection. With the silhouettes inspired from the motifs and the culturally rich clothing style of Nautch Girls, Vijay’s collection is for the Urban Woman not afraid to flaunt her individuality. The vivid color palette shows the designer’s penchant for experimenting. Blending rural influences seamlessly with urban sensibilities, Vijay has truly lived up to his reputation as an emerging designer to watch out for.

Using sensuous, natural fabrics like cotton with satin weave, mul, voil, linen and soft brocades, Vijay has created an interesting line including tunics, dresses, capes, jumpsuits, shrugs, skirts, and churidar pants. Playing with a wide color palette of ivory, beige, orange, pink, fuchsia, yellow and gold, and using embellishments like gold sequined kanthawork, resham thread embroidery, pipe work and cut daana work, Vijay’s collection definitely promises great things to come from his brand VJB.













Vijay takes a bow...

Lakme Fashion Week Summer Resort 2010 Preview - Atithi Gupta

This young, sprightly designer made her debut entry as the Gennext Designer at the Lakme Fashion Week F/W 09, and has gone on to make her mark across the country, thorough her label, ATITHI GUPTA. This alumni of Pearl Academy of Fashion finds her design muse in every day elements of life and finds her creativity take wings in forms and structure. For the Spring Summer Resort Wear 2010 collection, Atithi will showcase her collection, ‘In the shades of summer sky... ’. A collection replete with her signature austerity infused with new lines, enhanced by finely wrought details.
The collection celebrates lightness and newness, with subtle details that are an ode to modern feminine essence… an essence of calm sophistication and grace. The transparent; light-weight look has an understated and exquisite effect, a blend of sobriety. The summer theme is expressed in urbane, light and monochrome fabrics, colors and silhouettes, calling for a new asceticism. Collection will feature flowing dresses, tunics, rompers and layered tops are combined with embroidered short shrugs and jackets, slim skirts and pants with details around the waist.



The Very Best Of Atithi's Previous Collection

Lakme Fashion Week Summer Resort 2010 Preview - Vijay Balhara

A stylish brand ambassador for his own brand VJB, launched in 2006, Vijay Balhara is no stranger to the world of glamour. As a renowned model, he walked the ramps worldwide, for over 500 shows, strutting down the runway for the topmost brands across the globe. It was this exposure that gave Vijay an inherent sense of style that easily reflects in his designs. Vijay’s show at Lakme Fashion Week Summer Resort 2010, scheduled for 7th March, consolidates Vijay’s position as a promising, emerging designer, as one of the brave new breed that is redefining Indian fashion.
Through VJ B his endeavor is to glamorize his favorite fabric cotton and the centuries old rural Indian block print motifs and silhouettes in the most contemporary way as is evident in his collection “Borala Nautch” 2010
The theme for his Collection, “Borala Nautch” combines two words “Borala” and “Nautch”. Borala is an ornamental head gear used by women in rural North India, while the word “Nautch” is an anglicized version of the word “Naach”, or Nritya (Sanskrit), which means dance. Vijay’s collection takes the best elements of the ethnic, rural silhouettes and motifs, spiked with the rich textures and colors of the Nautch Girls’ clothing. These he blends with the contemporary forms and styles, to create a collection that is perfect for the Urban Indian Woman.
If his past collections, retailed at Mumbai’s leading premium stores like AZA, AMARA and Mogra are anything to go by, this young designer is all set to make true his commitment to taking Indian fashion to the world, one collection at a time.





For event schedule and designer profiles, visit Lakme Fashion Week Site.

The Big Fat Indian Wedding

Just a few months ago... and yet it seems like years ago. Things were so different then. This was at my sister-in-law's wedding. On 13th December. Less than a month ago, I had lost my mother. So the occasion was meant to give me a break from my grief.

Indian weddings are, like any wedding in any part of the world, family affairs. They are meant for bonding with your friends and family, and dressing up. There are so many ceremonies, and so many occasions to dress up for. I kept my make-up minimal. Thankfully, winters are good for my skin. And I found this salon in Lucknow where the lady did magic with my hair. The Sari is done by a very talented designer, Vishal Mehra.

My Own Wonderland!

Someone recently said to me that you live only once, but you sleep every night. How true! My bedroom is the most private, intimate space I can create for myself right now. So it was that I started with an unsightly hole in the wall, a discolored blue bed left by the owner, and bare walls.

The less you have to work with, the better you can see an idea in your head. Material clutter hampers creativity. So I got to work. I got the bed removed and got more space in return. I got two thick mattresses kept on the floor, and that’s my bed. The windows got draped in blue and two chairs from the loft found new life with a kiss of white paint.

The old set of closets, brown and dull, stood there silently as every other corner of the house found its share of vibrant colors. So I dressed it up a little. The closet, I mean. It looks so alive now, and happy.

I sleep every night in this little wonderland of mine. Soon new colors will find their way into this room. Like fishes in green grass. Like red cows in a violet field. Like yellow birds in a Indigo sky. And I slip into dreams as colorful as the things around me. Not bad!