SC says Bollywood must allow female make-up artists

The Supreme Court has ended the nearly six-decade ban on women from being employed as make-up artists in Bollywood.

"Supreme Court has stuck down clause 4 of membership of the senior artists union. Supreme Court has also struck down clause 6 relating to domicile of the senior artists union and by virtue of this, Supreme Court has directed that you give make-up artist cards to the petitioner and others and Supreme Court has also directed the police to ensure these make-up artists are permitted to work as make-up artists because that was also our grievance, because wherever the petitioner went to work as a make-up artist, those union people came and stopped her from working and she was removed from the place. So police has also been given direction to protect her while she is working as a make-up artist," said lawyer Jyotika Kalra.

While women work in most areas in Bollywood including technicians and hairdressers, the industry does not allow women to work as make-up artists. Trade unions say this is to ensure men are not deprived of work.

According to reports, a two-judge bench had said earlier this week that it would not permit this type of discrimination after the case was brought in the court by petitioner Charu Khurana and other female make-up artists against the Cine Costume Make-up Artists and Hair Dressers Association (CCMAA).

Khurana and other qualified female artists' applications for make-up artist identification cards had been reportedly rejected by the CCMAA because they are women.

After the SC ruling, she dedicated this victory to all working women in the industry.

"I am very happy and satisfied, because now all the women who want to be make-up artists will have job opportunities, and can present their work with their name which will bring them recognition," she said.

While this case is just related to Bollywood, the court said it will take action against regional language film industries based in cities such as Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai and Hyderabad which also bar women make-up artists.