The first time Pandhari Zuker made up someone for a cinematic appearance, it was V Shantaram for V Shantaram's film in 1949. ``There's a lot more to learn, he (Shantaram) declared after the trial,'' and the make-up artist knew it was meant to be a compliment on his very first assignment. Fifty-one years after he began his cine cruise, `Dada' (as he is fondly called) was last week felicitated by the Cinematographers' Combine at the Russian Cultural Centre.``For six years, Rajkamal Kalamandir worked well on me,'' says Zuker, peeling away the layers of time to provide a glimpse into his behind-the-screen life. He was 16 then and earned Rs 70 per month. A good Rs 5 for himself, Rs 3 for the railway pass and Rs 2 as his contribution to the chai. But Dada knew he had to move on, for the sake of his aspiring self, ``though it was at Rajkamal, a kala ka bhandaar (storehouse of the arts) literally, that I had the opportunity to work with the famous British make-up artist Jimmy Wining during the making of Jhanak Jhanak Payal Baje.'' His star rose when Nargis saw him brushing up blemishes on the sets of Jhansi Ki Rani and tested him for her Indo-Soviet project Pardesi. A light base, lipstick and minimally highlighted eyes, and the magic he worked on the celebrated actress' face took him to Russia for two months, where he picked up a diploma while working.``When I came back from Russia, I had to stay at home for a year. Film-makers were wary of my experience, till B R Chopra signed me for Gumraah.'' He had several trials with actress Mala Sinha to make her look the same throughout the film. ``We made montages, say, for a period of six-seven months of romance, and showed gradual transformation in the characters. Today they change 20-25 dresses in one song,'' he says. After seventeen years with the director, Dada moved on for an attenuated association with Yash Chopra. From Daag to Dilwale Dulhaniya.. and partly Dil To Pagan Hai, Pandhari Dada has been with Chopra for 40 years. But why not Mohabattein? ``I don't want anyone to tell me that I will do only three stars.''``First cinema was the star, today stars are cinema,'' he says, pained on seeing the brat pack run havoc in the industry. ``I even doubt if technicians know the storyline,'' points out Dada, comparing today's industry with that of yesteryear when everyone got a bound copy of the script and co-ordination ruled. ``Otherwise, one couldn't have made classics like Reshma Aur Shera where everyone (Sunil Dutt and Waheeda Rehman) had the look of a parched desert on their faces, or for that matter Neelkamal and mythologicals like Chanakya Chandragupta (Dilip Kumar) and Taj Mahal.''That doesn't mean films like Saudagar, Karma and Ram Lakhan are not worth mentioning, but ``unfortunately, stars (and their friends and relatives) are holding everybody to ransom. After all, who can match Nutan, Amitabh Bachchan and Fali Mistry,'' says Dada, remembering an actress whose face was almost perfect, a dedicated actor and an excellent cinematographer. ``Amitabh, a gawky newcomer then, retained his beard in Saat Hindustani till I came back to the sets after a couple of days,'' remarks an equally committed Dada who himself was on a shoot when his father, mother and wife passed away.``All's gone now,'' says Dada with disappointment. Like many others, he has also taken to television and is working on Bandhan, Amanat, Hum Paanch, Kanyadaan and Kashish. ``It keeps me busy and means good money. But it can't give me memories, like those I have of the Waheeda Rahman and Sanjeev Kumar starrer Subah or Shaam, which we shot in Iran. I have even retained the tickets of that film.''``Haven't we come a long way?'' he says, reminiscing that he has been tutored by Baba Vardham and Dada Paranjpye from Prabhat Film Company, Pune, who laid the foundation of many a make-up artist's career, including that of Pandhari Dada. ``No one can match their work in Sant Tukaram,'' he says.Now it's Dada's turn. Seventy per cent of make-up artists in the industry have been trained by him. ``If anyone mentions learning face-moulding skills in front of Rekha, she still suggests my name,'' he says, looking for his shoes. He has to go. Dada has a class to take.
