India West, the numero uno publication for the Indian-American community in the US has featured India’s No.1 makeup and prosthetic wiz Preetisheel Singh, showering praises on her “exceptional innings” in Bollywood.

Giving references of Akshay Kumar’s character of Bala in Housefull 4, Ayushmann Khurrana as the hero in Bala, Sunny Singh in Ujda Chaman and many more, the article by veteran journalist Rajiv Vijayakar points out that look designer Preetisheel “specializes in making up the faces of those we know to look like someone we do not!” Adding that with Preetisheel, “it is not just about faces but the entire body, the persona.”

The article goes on to give more details. “Look at Bhumi Pednekar’s appearance as a dark and simple social worker in Bala and contrast her va-va-voom looks in Pati Patni Aur Woh and you know what Singh is up to in film after film. Remember also the plump body-suit of Maanvi Gagroo in Ujda Chaman.”

“The complete look design of every actor in Housefull 4 in the period portions and of every artiste in Chhichhore both in their 1990s youth and current middle-aged versions, the Tamil hit Bigil featuring Vijay in a dual role, and a treasury of past excellence in films as diverse as Bajirao Mastani, Shivaay, Padmaavat, 102 Not Out, Mulk and PM Narendra Modi shows that Singh is no ordinary achiever.”

“Exceptional innings in less than eight years sees Singh have no predecessor in Indian cinema,” the article analyses.

For the record, Preetisheel is a National Award-winner, having worked for huge box-offices successes such as Bajirao Mastani, Padmaavat, Chhichhore, 102 Not Out, Mulk, Bala and Housefull 4, and designed looks for all the A-listers including names like Ajay Devgn, Akshay Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Ayushmann Khurrana, Deepika Padukone, John Abraham, Priyanka Chopra, Ranveer Singh and Shahid Kapoor. What’s more! After conquering Bollywood, she is now exploring the Southern industry more and more.

National Award-winning Preetisheel Singh who was recently featured among the top 5 makeup and prosthetic designers of the world, feels that the profession of makeup and prosthetics does not get its due at the various film awards in India.

“Forget getting its due, most film award events such as Filmfare Awards, Screen Awards, Zee Awards and IIFA do not even have a category for best makeup and prosthetic,” rues Preetisheel, who leads the look design scenario in India.

Preetisheel received the National Film Award for Best Makeup for the pre-Mughal historical epic Nanak Shah Fakir based on the life of Guru Nanak, wherein she designed the looks for all the characters in the movie.

“The National Award is probably the only one which acknowledges and encourages makeup and prosthetic personnel by having a National Film Award for Best Makeup category,” she remarks.

Preetisheel’s list of accomplishments is huge. She has designed looks for a number of top artists in Bollywood’s box-office successes such as Bajirao Mastani, Padmaavat, Chhichhore, 102 Not Out, Mulk, Bala and Housefull 4.

Her look design for Ranveer Singh as the intimidating pre-Mughal era emperor Alauddin Khilji in the 2018 film Padmaavat was a rage. She also received widespread critical acclaim for designing the look for Nawazuddin Siddiqui for the 2019 film Thackeray;  the biopic on Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray. She received rave reviews and special praise for the way Nawazuddin resembled Thackeray.

Her other credits include movies such as Andhadhun, Thackeray, Shivaay, Haider, Hawaizaada, Rangoon, Brothers, Talwar, Finding Fanny, Parched, Mom, Romeo Akbar Walter (RAW), Malaal, Pati Patni Aur Woh, Raat Akeli Hai, Panga, Ujda Chaman, House Next Door, Bigil, Boomerang and 24.

While 2020 has been a trying year for some, it is turning out to be one of the most wonderful years for National Award-winning make-up, hair and prosthetic look designer Preetisheel Singh.

After having five successes (Housefull 4, Chhichhore, Bala, Thackeray, Pati Patni Aur Woh) last year, Preetisheel began 2020 with yet another success in Panga and followed it up with Raat Akeli Hai.

Lined up for this year and next are releases like Yash Raj Films’ Bunty Aur Babli 2, Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Gangubai Kathiawadi, the Kangana Ranaut-starrer Dhaakad, Bhansali Productions’ Tuesdays and Fridays, and Southern movies such as South style icon Allu Arjun’s starrer Pushpa, South superstar Vikram’s starrer Cobra and yet another Southern superstar Thalapathy Vijay’s starrer Master.

Spending quality time with her parents and husband Mark Dsouza in her hometown Pathankot during the lockdown, the makeover wiz has continued to design looks for family weddings, and experimented with new prosthetic projects in this time.

But the real bundle of joy in her life may take a month or two to arrive. Preetisheel just revealed on Facebook that she is pregnant and expecting in a few weeks. We wish the gal a rocking future ahead.

For the record, Preetisheel is known for her transformational work in many other Bollywood movies such as Bajirao Mastani, 102 Not Out Mulk and Andhadhun. She also owns and operates India’s premier outfit Da Makeup Lab along with her partner Mark D’souza.

National Award-winning makeup and prosthetic designer Preetisheel Singh who curated Rishi Kapoor’s looks for 102 Not Out and Mulk, and worked with Irrfan Khan for Haider, is overcome with grief after their sudden demise.

“Working with Irrfan Khan and Rishi Sir has been a journey I will never forget,” says Preetisheel. She mentions that it’s rare to have such accomplished artists always willing to experiment with their screen appearances.

Preetisheel recollects, “When I first got a chance to work with Rishi Sir on 102 Not Out, I was a bit nervous as he had been working with international prosthetic artists earlier. But once I had finished the process of his look in the film, he was very impressed .”

“Moreover, he would give me interesting advice while narrating his experiences with international makeup and prosthetic artists. He was like a father figure to me and I will always miss him a lot.”

“I got a chance to work with Mr Khan during Haider and the experience was fabulous, as he was one of the most patient actors on the makeup chair,” reminisces Preetisheel.

“Apart from being among the best our industry has had, both Mr Khan and Rishi Sir were amazing and very down-to-earth human beings. And that is what made them so special. Today, when I think of all the times spent working with them, it brings tears of fondness. It is really sad to lose such amazing talent and good human beings.”

Reeling under the pressure of the Coronovirus lockdown, the demise of veteran actor Rishi Kapoor immensely saddened Bollywood. More so, Rishi’s death hit the industry as a twin tragedy, just as it was getting over the grief of actor Irrfan Khan’s death.

Remembering the evergreen actor’s classics, Bollywood PR Dale Bhagwagar listed 6 of Rishi Kapoor’s top movies which took the Indian film industry by storm. “Going through these top Rishi Kapoor classics as a flashback, may serve as a balm on the sad news that has befallen,” he wrote on his social media.

https://www.facebook.com/dalebhagwagar/posts/10221323134083415

1) Amar Akbar Anthony (1977)

The first in the list is Amar Akbar Anthony which was directed by the maverick filmmaker Manmohan Desai. Starring Rishi with Amitabh Bachchan and Vinod Khanna, the film belonged to the drama genre, but could easily be classified as a comedy and a musical.

2) Naseeb (1981)

Another dramatic film which Dale has listed on top is Naseeb, once again starring Rishi with Amitabh Bachchan, this time with Shatrughan Sinha giving them company. This one too was directed by Manmohan Desai.

3) Bobby (1973)

The third movie listed by the Bollywood publicist among Rishi’s best, is the actor’s first film as a lead star; the cult romantic megahit Bobby, directed by none other than his father Raj Kapoor, co-starring Rishi with Dimple Kapadia.

4) Prem Rog (1982)

Raj Kapoor was the director of two more films listed by Dale as the topmost classics of Rishi Kapoor. One being the dramatic Prem Rog, co-starring Rishi with Padmini Kolhapure.

5) Mera Naam Joker (1970)

The other being the romantic biopic Mera Naam Joker, which was actually Rishi’s debut as a child-artist. It released in 1970, three years before Rishi made his debut as a hero in Bobby in 1973. He even received the National Film Award for Best Child Artist for this one. Mera Naam Joker starred Raj Kapoor with Simi Garewal and a host of stars from the film industry. Rishi played the role of an adolescent called Raju, who deals with an infatuation with his teacher Mary, played by Simi Garewal.

6) Chandni (1989)

The final film Dale Bhagwagar lists as one of Rishi Kapoor’s greatest classics, is Yash Chopra’s movie Chandni, which starred Rishi with Sridevi and Vinod Khanna. Sixteen years after he made his debut as a hero with Dimple in Bobby, Rishi outdid himself as a romantic lead once again in Chandni opposite Sridevi.

“His more recent films like 102 Not Out (2018), Mulk (2018), Kapoor & Sons (2016), Rajma Chawal (2018), The Body (2019) and the reboot of Agneepath (2012) where he starred as a villain, also make credible mentions,” wrote Dale. “And not to forget some of the other greats such as Karz (1980), Saagar (1985), Hum Kisise Kum Naheen (1977), Deewana (1992), Damini (1993), Heena (1991), Coolie (1983) and Bol Radha Bol (1992),” Dale added.

What more can we say, but that we have lost a gem of an actor, which Bollywood won’t forget forever. Rishi was known as Bollywood’s ‘evergreen’ actor, and now, evergreen he will stay in the memories of all.