Veteran Actress Reveals Kamal Haasan's Strict No-Makeup Directive
Veteran actress Khushboo Sundar recently shared a fascinating behind-the-scenes story about working with legendary actor Kamal Haasan during the shooting of their 1990 blockbuster film Michael Madana Kama Rajan. The revelation came during a workshop at the 56th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) in Goa, where Khushboo and fellow actress Suhasini Maniratnam discussed their early experiences in the Tamil film industry.
The 'Glammed-Up Queen' Meets Kamal's Vision
Khushboo Sundar described how she arrived on the set of Michael Madana Kama Rajan looking like what she called a 'proper glammed-up queen' with curly hair and carefully applied makeup. However, her meticulously prepared appearance didn't impress her co-star Kamal Haasan, who also played a significant creative role in the film's production.
'There's a washroom behind you, go wash your face and come,' were the first words Kamal Haasan spoke to her that day, as Khushboo recalled during the IFFI workshop. Initially taken aback, the actress thought perhaps her eye shadow was too heavy and tried to lightly pat it down before returning.
Kamal's Clear Vision for Character Authenticity
When Khushboo returned with slightly toned-down makeup, Kamal Haasan was not satisfied. He firmly instructed her again to completely wash her face, emphasizing that he didn't want 'a trace of makeup' visible. The superstar explained that her character Shalini needed to appear completely natural in the film.
Khushboo eventually understood Kamal's artistic perspective and happily complied with his directive. 'It's just the vision that creative people have in their mind,' she reflected during the workshop, acknowledging the importance of the director's and actor's vision for character authenticity.
During the same session, Suhasini Maniratnam added her perspective on makeup in cinema, noting that cinematographers typically prefer minimal makeup. She revealed that she has always done her own makeup throughout her career, considering it a valuable learning experience. Both actresses emphasized that during their early years in the industry during the 1980s and 1990s, professional makeup artists were not commonly available, and actors typically handled their own hair and makeup within strict time constraints.
