Since the first moving pictures glided across the silver screen, films have inspired the way people look dress and act. From the golden age of Hollywood until now, so many beauty and fashion trends have taken their cue from movie stars. The cinema of each country has created gorgeous looks for the public to follow. None more so than Indian cinema, now universally known as Bollywood.

Now Roshni Ladva, one of the U.K.’s top hair and make up artists, has helped create Love letters to the movies, a concept design too showcase some of the most beautiful looks to come out of the the Mumbai based industry. From the luxurious splendour of Devdas to classic bridal looks, Roshni and her team have partnered with leading brands and a top stylist to recreate golden age Bollywood for the modern era.

With Indian cinema comes Indian food and I was lucky enough, recently, to be invited, over a delicious lunch at the appropriately named Bollywood Stories restaurant in Kingsway, Holborn, to witness the transformation of some models into screen goddesses.

The sumptuous gowns were provided by Ami Bridal Couture and the dazzling jewellery by Rubina Kapoor jewellery. Creative Director Roshni with her Marketing Director Maggy oversaw the whole production, whilst celebrity stylist Anisha Vasani conceptually brought the vision to life with her attention to detail.
Newly qualified beauty artists who had trained with Roshni transformed the pretty, contemporary looks of the models into a fiery warrior princess, a bride at her mehndi and a James Bond style diva among others, I took the opportunity to ask them what they had learnt From Roshni and Maggie.

Preeti had just completed a hair and makeup course and is now a Certified freelance make up artist.She was creating a bridal look with a modern twist. She told me she had learnt so much on the course and now wants to be full time make up artist. She had found Roshni to be ‘an incredible teacher. You really couldn’t get better.’

Khushalee had also just finished the hair and makeup course. As she expertly created a mehndi look, she said she had started from scratch but had learnt so much, she now felt confident enough to prepare models to be professionally photographed. She too described Roshni as an amazing teacher, ‘so friendly.’

Zarfashan completed the course with Roshni and Magee in 2018. She too considered it an incredible course which had provided her with ‘lots of information.’ More experienced then the other make-up artists, she said she had undertaken other courses previously but this one was was the most practical-based. She had been provided with her own model to work on and felt she had gained an in-depth knowledge into the art of make-up.

By Rehna Azim

CREDITS

Creative Directors / Mentors: Roshni Ladva & Manjula Vekaria
Designer: Ami Bridal Couture
Creative stylist: Anisha Vasani
Jewellery: Rubina Kapoor
Photography: Qaiser Azim
Video: Sunil Dhillon
Flowers: Lux Occasions
Venue: bollywoodstorieslondon

Models

Tara Kirsty, Olivia Brown, Mary Grace, Ane Maria, Emily Marie Anderson
Artists: Pritee, Khushalee, Zarfashan , Geminee .