Though Katrina Kaif reportedly sacked her make up man of 11 years, for some Bollywood stars, their support staff is not just indispensable but irreplaceable too
Bollywood stars loyal to support staff
It isn't just talent and hard work that makes a star — a lot goes on behind the scenes. If you ever wondered why a star's hair is never out of place or their costumes and make up oh-so-perfectly done, there is a huge army of professionals to be acknowledged. The support staff of several actors are a support system for them, no less. With several years of association, they tend to become the stars' extended family.
Katrina Kaif and (inset) her make up artist, Subhash Singh
So reports of Katrina Kaif firing her make up man of 11 years for reporting late to the sets came as a surprise. The make up artist Subhash Singh is shocked, to say the least. "I had gone to Mauritius on a film assignment and the schedule went haywire due to the weather. I had to come back and do Katrina's make up for Jagga Jasoos. However, flights had been cancelled due to the inclement weather. I had informed Katrina and her team about the delay. My assistant, Santosh was helping Katrina with her make up though she mostly prefers to do it herself," he says, admitting it was through media reports that he learnt about Kat's decision to fire him.
Subhash says he was aware that Katrina was upset with him for not turning up, but hoped things would be sorted. "I have worked with her for 11 years and thought the issue would be sorted. There was a time when her shoot was continuously getting cancelled due to some issues for which I stayed put at home for a few months."
A source close to the actress says though it was not unusual for outdoor shoots to get rescheduled and delayed, Subhash' intimation to Kat on short notice was unacceptable. "There are no issues or misunderstandings with Subhash and he has not been 'fired' from his services."
Notwithstanding this 'stray' incident, the film industry has several actors who have continued with the same support staff for years. hitlist takes a look at some B'wood faces and their Man Fridays:
Amitabh Bachchan
Though he lent his voice to the 'Ekla Cholo Re' (Walk alone) track in the Vidya Balan-starrer 'Kahaani', he certainly doesn't believe in it.
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Amitabh Bachchan
The superstar boasts of a support staff which has stuck with him for two decades or more. Make up artist Deepak Sawant has been working with him for the last 41 years and his secretary Sheetal Jain for 35 years now. Praveen Jain has been Big B's travelling companion for 25 years while Raju Goda has maneouvered the actor's hot wheels since two decades.
On his association with Sr Bachchan, Sawant says, "Initially, I used to assist other artists and have done Dilip Kumar's make up in 1970-71. Gradually, I became his personal make up man when he shot for a guest role in 'Phir Kab Milogi' (1974). I was introduced to Bachchan sahab in 1972 and have been doing his make up till date. When he joined politics, I was out of work and started working with Smita Patil. When he resigned, I was back with him. His family treats me like one of them. He has had the same staff for so many years because he is such a good person to work with."
Shah Rukh Khan
The Bollywood baadshah is also known to be a generous boss. His driver, Mohan, has been with him for over a decade now.
Shah Rukh Khan
So has his Man Friday, Subhash. Even his make up man Arun Indulkar has also been working with him since many years. Earlier, Indu's father used to do SRK's make up after veteran actress Hema Malini introduced them.
Suniel Shetty
He is one of the few actors who never thought of replacing his support staff and the number of years of association says it all — make up artist Kiran Naik (25 years), driver Shyam Narayan Mishra (35 years), Man Fridays Parshu Ram Tiwalekar (30 years) and Ram Tilak Yadav (20 years), manager Asif Shaikh (15 years).
Suniel Shetty
Arif Ali has been doing his hair since the last five years now. Suniel says, "I have spent as much time with them as I have with my family and hence, they are definitely my extended family."
Priyanka Chopra
This actress may have bagged maximum votes for the best de-glam selfie on Instagram, but don't we love her smokey eyes, the rosy tint on her cheeks and bold red puckers?
Priyanka Chopra
The genius behind her make up is Uday Shirali, who has been with her for the last seven years. The first time he worked with her was during 'Anjaana Anjaani'. And if you have been thinking of her trendy tresses, Priyanka Borkar deserves credit.
Shahid Kapoor
His driver Anwar Qureshi has been with him for the last 20 years while his Man Friday, Manzoor Alam, whom he lovingly calls Mamu, has guided him from the time he stepped into the industry.
Shahid Kapoor
Apparently, they used to work for his mother Neelima Azim. Sukhwinder Singh or Ricky has been Shahid's hair stylist for the last five-six years but his security man, Nitin Bamne, who served him for four years, is no longer part of his team.
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