'If you don't stop working, we will cut off your hands'—Namrata Soni
Bollywood makeup artist Namrata Soni just shared how tough her early days were.
She revealed in interviews with Indian media that male-dominated unions threatened her and even warned, "if I didn't stop working, they would cut off my hands."
Producers hiring women like her could get fined, and her family faced serious pressure.
Breaking barriers in Bollywood
Soni was once forced out of a studio and had to ask for police protection.
For years, she fought legal battles until the Supreme Court finally struck down the ban on women makeup artists in 2014—a huge win that helped open up the industry for others.
Turning setbacks into success
Despite all this, Soni built a thriving career with support from stars like Sonam Kapoor and Shah Rukh Khan.
She's now launched Simply Nam, her eco-friendly beauty brand—proof that breaking barriers can lead to big things.