Beauty and the Best Magazine was in conversation with Meenakshi Dutt, an icon of the glamour industry and a beacon of inspiration for many aspiring make-up artistes. She has broken the glass ceiling in unimaginable ways and has styled herself into a persona that begets respect in the field of this career path. She believes staying positive and dreaming big is essential to create the life of your dreams. What business are you into? Our forte is Makeup and hairstyling. We aim to teach the craft to new people who have dreams in their eyes and talent in their fingers. The glamour world thrives on new styles and looks and we update our skills regularly to create novel looks. The more Avant garde the better. Creating global trends in desi environs is our style statement. Who has inspired you the most? People who have the determination to win and move ahead in life are my source of inspiration. It is a trait I admire, not a person as such. There are many who have lit fires within my consciousness. Shehnaz Hussain is a feisty entrepreneur in my industry who has shown the way forward. If not this which profession would you choose? I was always someone who has been attracted to creativity. The Plan B of my life would have been being an actress or dancer. In the early phase of life, the idea of being the cabin crew in an international airline had caught my fancy. Makeup was the other choice I had in mind and with time it took the front seat. Since then there has been no turning back. I would also like to advise young people to have more than one career choice in mind. Knowledge is the key. Learn everything about your trade and keep yourself updated. Do what you love and works best for you. What are the challenges that you faced? The field I have chosen is still in a nascent phase. There are a plethora of challenges that you need to face when you are in the throes of establishing yourself as a makeup artist. The bridal market is another huge challenge that you have to conquer. The new crop of makeup artistes are more tech savvy and have garnered huge exposure. It is a roller coaster ride that keeps any professional on her toes. It is fun and exhilarating at the same time. What differentiates you from others? The Meenakshi Dutt Makeovers team has the zeal and the passion to follow the latest trends in makeup and hairstyling. The softest look to the loudest makeup can be nailed with ease at our premises. The looks we specialize are Arabic, Cut crease and sequin eyes. The latest trends and classic makeup are both equally liked by our patrons. Our capability to add creativity and uniqueness to our work is our academy’s hallmark. How do you keep your clients happy? Clients always like a personal touch and connection when they visit us. The key to customer delight is understanding their needs and requirements and add our suggestions to the mix to help them reach a solution. The end result is always an enhanced look. We have so many happy clients who endorse us to their friends and family too. Our reputation is growing. The New Face with Exciting Ideas Shivangi Dutt Heir to an icon of the Indian makeup industry, harboring some prolific ideas for herself and their brand, and with a dream to transform the current makeup trends, ShivangiDutt is the new face of the famed makeup brand MDM Makeovers and the able daughter of ace makeup artist. MeenakshiDutt, Shivangi recently completed her university education in the UK, raked up an A1 grade in her makeup and hairstyling degree, and has now come to India to pursue her career. The Beauty and the Best team got in touch with her to pen down her visions for the Indian market, the excerpts of which are here. What is your style file? My style file is all about myself and what my mood is like at a particular moment. Even in my work, I like to replicate that idea by providing a makeover depending on the audience and the ambiance. Not all situations can have the same makeup. The art has to be different for a grungy and cute setting. How’s your work shaping up? Right now, I am focusing on mainly clientele-based work. I have hardly been in India for 2-3 months now and really haven’t had the opportunity to explore the other areas of makeup. But soon enough, I would like to discover more as the potential available in the makeup industry is so vast. Tell us about your professional training in your field of work? During my time at the university, I have worked with multiple professional photographers and their shoots. I was also a part of the makeup team of the Graduate Fashion Week in London where we worked side by side with L’Oréal. Then I interned at a UK-based magazine called the Beauty Papers and now I am here working for MDM Makeovers. Your mother is a legend in the makeup industry, do you feel you can match up to her success Mom is an inspiration to everyone, isn’t she? She started at a different time and I have always seen her work very hard. I hope to give the same amount of dedication to my work and wish to reach a level of success that will satisfy me. Are you planning to make a mark in the Bollywood industry as a makeup artist? Stepping into Bollywood as a makeup artist will be really exciting. It is not about looking good there. You create stories with makeup, bring fiction to life, and that is something I look forward to doing. What are your views on the Indian makeup industry? Right now, I feel the Indian makeup industry is
