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‘Glammed-up queen’ Khushboo Sundar was scolded by Kamal Haasan for excessive makeup: ‘I don’t want a trace…’

Actor Khushboo Sundar recalled how superstar Kamal Haasan once asked her to remove makeup before shooting their 1990 film, Michael Madana Kama Rajan.

3 min readGoaNov 21, 2025 08:27 PM IST

Khushboo Sundar and Kamal Haasan in Michael Madana Kama Rajan.

Actors Suhasini Maniratnam and Khushboo Sundar added a lot of heft to the first day of the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI), Goa, as they hosted a workshop, The Luminary Icons: Creative Bonds and Fierce Performances. During the session, the duo opened up about how they never had any makeup or hair artists for films during their 20s and had to do it themselves. Khushboo also recalled how Suhasini’s uncle, superstar Kamal Haasan asked her to remove her makeup before playing the character Shalini in their film Michael Madana Kama Rajan (1990).

Recalling the incident from the sets of Michael Madana Kama Rajan, Khushboo shared that as soon as she arrived on set, Haasan asked her to wash her face. “When I was shooting with Kamal Haasan for Michael Madana Kama Rajan, I went with curly hair, well-done makeup, like a proper glammed-up queen. I said hello to him and he said, ‘There’s a washroom behind you, go wash your face and come.’ I was like, ‘Excuse me.’ I thought he probably thought there was too much eye shadow. I puffed it up a bit and came back saying that I’m ready,” she said.

Khushboo continued, “He said, ‘Don’t you understand? Go wash your face and come. I don’t want a trace of makeup on your face. My Shalini is going to be without makeup in the film.’ Then, I understood his point and very happily washed my face. Then he said that we are ready for the shot. It’s just the vision that creative people have in their mind.”

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Reflecting on her experience with makeup on set, Suhasini Maniratnam remarked, “A cinematographer will never like your makeup. He will always say that it’s too much lipstick or rose. I also don’t like makeup. After my makeup, I go straight to the cinematographer and say, ‘It’s too much. I want to wipe this off. What is this?’ Then, they say that it’s fine and that makeup looks perfect.”

The actor also revealed that she never had a makeup artist during her younger days. “I do my makeup myself and I have been doing it from day one. It’s a learning experience,” she shared. To which, Khushboo added, “Same here, none of us had makeup artists in our 20s, 30s. It took 15 minutes exactly. I should be able to visualise myself with the hair and makeup.”

Navya Kharbanda

Navya Kharbanda is an Entertainment Journalist and Cinematic Commentator at The Indian Express, where she specializes in bridging the gap between classic Bollywood heritage and contemporary Gen-Z perspectives. Her work is characterized by a blend of nostalgia-driven analysis and on-the-ground reporting from major film festivals and industry events. Experience & Professional Background Navya is a prominent voice on The Indian Express entertainment desk, known for her ability to secure candid interviews with both legendary veterans and rising stars. Her career highlights include: The Indian Express: Covers a wide range of topics from high-stakes box office analysis to in-depth celebrity profiles. She is a regular at major events like the International Film Festival of India (IFFI). SCREEN Interviews: Navya has conducted a series of "exclusive conversations" for SCREEN, featuring industry stalwarts like Anupam Kher, Vishal Bhardwaj, Vidhu Vinod Chopra, and Suhasini Maniratnam. Archival Reporting: She is noted for her sensitive handling of archival interviews and retrospectives, recently covering the legacy of late superstar Dharmendra and the career reflections of the late Satish Shah. Expertise & Focus Areas Navya’s beat is uniquely defined by her "Gen-Z Revisit" series, where she re-evaluates cult classics through a modern lens. Her core areas of expertise include: Cinematic Retrospectives: Analyzing 80s and 90s landmarks like Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak, and Mohabbatein to explore how themes of romance and rebellion resonate with today’s youth. Industry Insights: Tracking the career resurgences of actors (e.g., Akshaye Khanna) and the evolving dynamics of film production and distribution in the OTT era. On-Set Dynamics: Reporting on behind-the-scenes stories from major productions, ranging from the technical challenges of Mirzapur: The Film to the work ethics of superstars like Shah Rukh Khan. South Indian Cinema: Expanding her coverage to include the impact of regional icons and the rise of pan-Indian fantasy epics like Magadheera. Authoritativeness & Trust Navya Kharbanda has established her authority by consistently providing "Journalism of Courage" in the entertainment sphere. Whether she is interrogating the sexism in patriarchal classics or reporting on the fair-pay debates at international film festivals, her work prioritizes factual accuracy and critical objectivity. Her ability to synthesize deep industry history with modern audience trends makes her a trusted source for readers seeking both entertainment news and thoughtful cultural commentary. ... Read More

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