Celebrated Bollywood makeup artist Namrata Soni has revealed shocking details about the extreme threats and harassment she faced while establishing herself in the male-dominated film industry, including terrifying warnings that her hands would be chopped off if she continued working.
The Dark Side of Bollywood's Beauty Industry
In a recent interview with ANI, Soni disclosed that when she began her career, she was likely only the second female makeup artist in Bollywood. The industry was completely dominated by men at that time, creating a genuinely frightening environment for women professionals. She explained the rigid gender roles that existed: "Till then, there was only a makeup dada and a hair didi. Women were allowed to do only hair, while men did makeup."
The situation became so hostile that film unions would regularly harass producers who dared to hire female makeup artists. "Whenever I was on set, the cine union turned up and harassed the producers and fined them for hiring a woman makeup artist," Soni recalled. The pressure was so intense that she was often expected to hide in vanity vans because the unions didn't want women visible on set.
Escalating Threats and Family Terror
The professional harassment soon escalated into personal terror. Soni's family began receiving threatening phone calls and messages warning of severe consequences if she didn't stop working. The most chilling threat came through voicemails on her family's landline.
"My mother used to get threatening phone calls on the landline, like voicemails, warning that if I didn't stop working, they would cut off my hands," Soni revealed during the emotional interview. Despite her father's understandable concerns and questions about why she continued working under such dangerous circumstances, Soni remained determined to pursue her passion.
The makeup artist demonstrated remarkable courage, telling her father that she genuinely loved her job and was committed to continuing despite the threats. Her determination eventually led to a landmark legal battle against the powerful unions that were trying to exclude women from makeup artistry.
Legal Victory and Industry Support
Soni's fight for gender equality in Bollywood reached its climax when she was physically dragged out of Filmistan studio by union members. The situation became so dangerous that she had to call Goregaon police for protection for herself and her team. At one point, the union confidently told her she would never win the case against them.
However, in 2014, the Supreme Court delivered a historic judgment, lifting the ban on female makeup artists and declaring such discrimination illegal. This landmark decision represented a significant victory not just for Soni, but for all women aspiring to work in Bollywood's technical fields.
Throughout her challenging journey, Soni found crucial support from several Bollywood A-listers who stood by her cause. She specifically mentioned Shah Rukh Khan, Salman Khan, Karan Johar, Farah Khan, Sonam Kapoor, Sameera Reddy, and Preity Zinta as being exceptionally supportive of women working with women.
She shared a particularly touching memory from the making of "Om Shanti Om" in 2007, when director Farah Khan defended her position by challenging others: "Can anybody do what she's doing? If so, I won't take her." Soni emotionally noted that such support "meant the world to me" during those difficult times.
The Justice Hema Committee report has since indirectly revealed why such massive disparity existed between male and female professionals in every department of film production. Namrata Soni's story stands as both a testament to the challenges women face behind the scenes in Bollywood and an inspiring account of courage and eventual triumph over discrimination.
