Because I'm a freelancer there are no fixed work timings; sometimes we start early in the morning and we're done by afternoon, or sometimes you're working through the night, if the assignment is a movie shoot, for example. It's been that way ever since I started out. If you're a makeup artist working with a makeup company, on the other hand, like Mac or Chanel or any of these cosmetic brands, then you have fixed working hours -- it's like a proper nine-to-five job. I definitely prefer working as a freelancer, because I'm working on my own terms.

Is it a struggle -- clients can be very exacting when it comes to this kind of work. What kind of disappointments have you had to cope with when starting out in the make-up industry and even now?

It is a struggle initially when you're a newcomer and sometimes clients take you for granted -- they take advantage of you. You're kind of bossed over and things like that, but it's not all that bad. Actually, I would say I've been quite lucky -- I've not really had any major disappointments as such. The odd client does throw a fit at you now and then, but with time you learn how to handle them.

Sometimes you just have to ignore what they're saying; you have to be even-tempered in this line. Not all clients are like that, but yes, some can be very demanding -- they've called you and they're paying you, so they act like they own you for that amount of time. But you learn how to handle such people.

What is your opinion of the current make-up industry scenario? Do you believe that youngsters looking to make a foray into the profession today have it easy and why?

I think the makeup industry in India is growing, but it's not still very 'formalised' so to speak -- everything is still not as professional as it could be, when it comes to payments, there are no work contracts made, etc. But yes, for youngsters it's a great career option because there's a lot of money involved and there's plenty of work to go around as well.

Of course, payments differ according to the assignments you're working on -- you can't expect to make the same amount on a two-hour bridal assignment as on an eight-hour film shoot. As a trainee you can expect to draw around Rs 3,000 to 5,000 per assignment, if you're an experienced freelancer around Rs 7,000-10,000 and if you're an established name in the business, Rs 15,000 and over. Basically, if you're good at what you do and have the right contacts, you'll succeed. We have plenty of young guys and girls making their way into the line today.

You're working with one of the biggest names in the business at the moment -- Cory Walia. How did you land your current job? Also, you've mentioned that the right contacts are needed to launch a career -- do you need a lucky break in this line of work or is it sufficient to rely solely on your talent?

I consider myself very lucky to have gotten the chance to work with Cory Walia, because he truly is one of the biggest names in the industry -- but the opportunity came to me quite by chance, through a common family friend. When I was just starting out I didn't even know who Cory was and I had absolutely no clue about the makeup industry, but when I was introduced to him, he was good enough to take me on as an assistant without a formal interview or even a trial makeup session.

In this line you don't get paid a fixed salary, but I started receiving commissions for assignments from Day One, even though I was still training under him. When you're starting off, if you're assisting a senior makeup artist you shouldn't expect to be paid much, because you're still learning and you need him/ her more than he/ she needs you. Cory is an exception; he's very sweet and pays all his assistants. I was very fortunate to be hired by him and I've never looked back since.