Adding final touch to a pretty face

SURAT, July 7: Arunbhai Adhvaryu is a name to reckon with in the make-up' world. A make-up artist, he has been in the profession from 1951-...

SURAT, July 7: Arunbhai Adhvaryu is a name to reckon with in the make-up8217; world. A make-up artist, he has been in the profession from 1951-52. Though he has worked with every drama and dance group in the city, his longest association has been with the Yazdi Karanjia Group of Dramatics.

Besides doing make-up for drama artists, he also does make-up for dancers, especially at the arangyatram8217; ceremony, the graduation function of classical dance. He has also worked with folk and classical dance troupes and in the process, mastered the art of 8220;making people look like what the situation demands.8221;

Born in the city on June 2, 1936, Adhvaryu studied at the Municipality School no 6 now no. 68 in Gopipura and then upto class X at the T and T V High School in Nanpura. As far as academics is concerned he is not even class X pass, despite 17 trials.

A firm believer in astrology, Adhvaryu says, 8220;I was told that I would earn a name for myself and earn respect. I was also told that I would never be able to study more than matriculation.8221; He says all things foretold about him have come true and that there is definitely a relationship between the movement of celestial objects and its impact on the life of humans.

His tryst as a make-up artist began as early as school days. Though he did not have any professional training in the field, schools and colleges regularly asked his school8217;s headmaster, to allow him to help apply make-up to artists during dramas and plays.

He attributes his success to his guru Virendra Adhvaryu. 8220;Guru Adhvaryu along with guru Rajendra Surka his father8217;s guru have been a tremendous driving force. What I am today is only because of them,8221; he says.

Adhvaryu is not happy about the situation prevailing now in the field of drama. 8220;There was a time when people like Rajendra Surka, Chandrakant kapadia, Sudhir Munshi, Kirtidaben Jadhav, Baldev Moriya sacrificed practically everything to ensure that drama and other art forms thrived. They even raised funds and set up Kalakshetra8217;. Unfortunately, the scene is no more the same.

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8220;Politics and corruption have crept up even in this field,8221; he regrets.