Netra Mantena’s Udaipur wedding makeup done by Aishwarya, Sushmita collaborator: ‘Brides today have unrealistic expectations’

Explaining the process, she added, “A mood board is a collage of what the client will be wearing, along with hair and makeup references. So for each look, I prepare seven hairstyles that would suit the outfit and seven makeup options that would suit the bride. And again, the expectations are unrealistic.”

According to her, the root of the problem lies in social media.

“They are pulling images from Pinterest and Instagram where everything is filtered. They show me these ‘no-makeup’ pictures and I am like, ‘Are you sure? This has 18 filters on it. I can’t make you look like this.’ Real skin has texture—pores, acne marks, scars. I can make you look like the most amazing version of yourself, but not like a filter.”

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Namita revealed that some brides threaten to go elsewhere if she won’t recreate an impossible look. “I say, ‘Okay!’ Because my Instagram doesn’t have filters,” she said. The struggle, she explained, doesn’t end once the makeup is done. “Now we can’t even post pictures. Brides edit them—they face-tune, beautify, overcorrect. When I tell them ‘this is not the makeup I did,’ they say, ‘We’d rather not post the picture.’ That’s why I don’t put up much of my work.”

Having been in the industry for more than two decades, Namita has developed ways to ease the chaos. “I politely request the bride’s family to leave us alone with her—maybe just one person she trusts. Because the minute I finish, aunties come in and say whatever they want. So I wrap up and leave.”

She then reminisced about working with Sonam Kapoor. “I did Sonam’s looks for her wedding. She was awesome—like a sister. Every look we did was completely different, the outfits too. She’s a fashionista; she understands fashion. Once she trusts you, she lets you do what you do best, which is so important.”

Namita has worked with several leading ladies over the years. “Sonam is my favourite. I have worked with Rani Mukerji—she’s stunning. Every time I see her, I wonder, ‘How is she not aging?’ I have worked with Sushmita Sen, Aishwarya Rai, Deepika Padukone, Janhvi Kapoor and Malaika Arora.”

Recalling her experience with Aishwarya Rai, she said, “She is so beautiful. I worked with her during a phase when she loved experimenting—like glittery blue eyeshadow. I have even travelled with her to Chennai for work.”

But her biggest admiration has always been for Sushmita Sen. “I have had the biggest girl crush on her. Whatever you think she is, she’s bigger than that—dynamic and amazing. I was in awe. Doing a magazine cover with her was a bucket-list moment, along with working with Aishwarya.”