Male actors resort to self makeup on set
Since TV shoots resumed, actor Tushar Dalvi has been reaching the set two hours before call time, to do his own makeup. And such is the case for a number of actors who, amid the pandemic, are doing their own makeup for the first time.
Dalvi, who plays the titular role in Mere Sai - Shraddha Aur Saburi, tells us, “It would earlier take 45-50 minutes, now I take about an hour and a half to get ready. Sticking the beard properly is also a task. Also, different shades and tones are required to suit outdoor and indoor scenes, cloudy and sunny weather, etc.”
Long hours outdoors is also a concern, given the Covid-19 outbreak. “We come to the set early for the sanitisation and checking that happens, and then the makeup. But we’ve to adjust. Work can’t stop, or else it would be difficult for many to survive,” adds Dalvi.
Actors Deven Bhojani and
Paresh Ganatra, too, have been reaching the sets of their show, Bhakharwadi, early. “We are not as good as professionals, so sometimes, things go wrong,” admits Bhojani.
Shaleen Malhotra started learning makeup tricks at home, five days before he resumed shooting for Mere Dad Ki Dulhan. “Face makeup is manageable, but I find it difficult to do my hair. I’m learning that, too,” says the actor, who brings his makeup kit home to sanitise.
Earlier, Malhotra was being guided via video call by makeup artist Saif Shaikh, but that didn’t work out. “Now, I stand at a distance and tell him what foundation, brush etc to use and how,” reveals Shaikh.
To avoid physical proximity, actors are now doing their touch up, too. Sudhanshu Pandey, who’s shooting for Anupamaa, says, “At times, we sweat or get exhausted and our face looks dull. My makeup artist (Atanu Koley) holds the mirror, I do the touch up. We’ve got this face fixer spray now that’s made life simpler.”
In addition to actors, makeup artists are also adapting to the new normal. “Makeup kits are sanitised and kept ready. After proper sanitisation, we wear masks and PPE kits,” says makeup artist Vishal Vilas Pathare, who’s been a part of Mere Sai for three years.
Despite having less work, makeup artists are happy that there is at least some income. “Kitne din baith sakte hai ghar pe? It was getting difficult to make ends meet,” says Koley.