Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, the actress known for her indefinable beauty and elegance, has often left audiences mesmerized both on and off-screen. But few knew that in Aishwarya Rai’s most iconic dance number ‘Kajra Re’ from Bunty Aur Babli (2005) she appeared completely without makeup. In a flashback conversation with makeup maestro Mickey Contractor, this surprising fact was revealed during his interview with Lehren.
Real Beauty Secret Behind Aishwarya Rai’s ‘Kajra Re’ Look
The song which became a nationwide sensation for not just its catchy tune but also for Aishwarya’s captivating charm, it holds an interesting behind-the-scenes story. Makeup artist Mickey Contractor who has been Aishwarya’s trusted collaborator for years, confirmed this long-speculated rumour and talking about the process in detail. He reacted saying, “It was not just a no-makeup look; it was actually no makeup. That’s the whole thing behind the Kajra Re look.”
Mickey shared how he and Aishwarya had been planning something like this for years to do a project where she would appear completely makeup-free. “Aish and I had been talking about doing a film where she would wear no makeup, but we were waiting for the right moment, as you can’t do that in every film,” he explained.
When the Right Moment Finally Came
And that moment arrived with Kajra Re. Producer to the film, Aditya Chopra wanted Aishwarya to look both glamorous and raw. “This song came up, and Adi wanted her to look very raw,” Mickey recalled. “Between director Shaad, Aish, and Adi, it was decided that there should be no foundation at all.”
“Since the lyrics were about her eyes ‘Kajra re tere kare kare naina’ we didn’t want lenses. She just wore black kajal, mascara, and maybe a little lip gloss. That’s it,” Mickey explained.
When asked if Aishwarya felt apprehensive about going makeup-free, Mickey instantly dismissed the thought and said, “She’s very confident about her own beauty, her own self and her talent. There’s no question of being apprehensive. She knows she looks beautiful, come on.”
This behind-the-scenes insight reminds fans why Aishwarya Rai’s Kajra Re remains timeless, not just for its rhythm but for the effortless authenticity that the actress brought to it.
