SC removes bar on women as Bollywood make-up artists

Women make-up artists and hairdressers will now be allowed to become members of professional associations, courtesy Supreme Court's ruling Monday. Members of the Hindi film fraternity have hailed the movie.

The Supreme Court struck down the provision that prohibited women from becoming members of the make-up artists and hairdressers association in the film industry. Without the association's membership, one could not practice the craft in the film industry.

The apex court bench headed by Justice Dipak Misra also struck down the provision of the make-up artists and hairdressers association that mandated a person to be a resident of a particular place for five years to entitle him/her to become member of the association.

The court order came on a petition by woman make-up artist Charu Khurana, who had challenged these two clauses of the association as being discriminatory against women.

Filmmakers like Madhur Bhandarkar and Farhan Akhtar lauded the ruling, and many wondered why the "archaic" condition was in practice.

"Welcome judgement by Hon. Supreme Court allowing women make-up artistes in film fraternity. The discrimination was unhealthy and uncalled for," tweeted Bhandarkar, who is known for his brand of women-centric filmmaking.

Farhan tweeted: "The Supreme Court ruling on ending the bias against women becoming members of the Cine Make-up Artist Association is most welcome."

Actor Aftab Shivdasani hailed it as "some progress towards gender equality", while director Nikhil Advani said it was an "archaic law".

Celebrity photographer, who works with a lot of make-up artists himself, said that "the fact that this discrimination existed in the first place is hideous".