From chartered accountant to one of Bollywood’s most celebrated makeup artists, Ojas Rajani shares the journey behind a career built on passion, perseverance and purpose.

By Nichola Marie

You left behind a successful corporate career to pursue your passion for beauty and styling. What gave you the confidence to take that leap?

Leaving a highly paid career as a chartered accountant to pursue my dream of becoming a celebrity makeup artist and hairstylist gave me the confidence to believe that nothing is impossible if you’re determined to achieve your goal. Following my passion was the best decision I ever made, and it taught me that when you truly believe in yourself, no obstacle is too big to overcome.

From training in Miami to working with Bollywood’s biggest stars, you’ve built an extraordinary career. What were the defining moments along the way?

My passion, humble nature and willingness to adapt to every situation in life have been my greatest strengths. Working in Bollywood brought me instant recognition, but it was my focus, determination and faith that kept me going. My parents’ prayers and blessings gave me the confidence to face every challenge, and over the years, I learnt that every setback can turn into a blessing in disguise if you remain committed to your dreams.

Having worked with some of the biggest names in the industry — including Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Deepika Padukone, Priyanka Chopra, Sridevi, Madhuri Dixit and Katrina Kaif — what have these collaborations taught you?

Every actress I have worked with — from Sridevi, Urmila Matondkar and Madhuri Dixit to Shilpa Shetty, Deepika Padukone, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Katrina Kaif, Jacqueline Fernandez and Anushka Sharma — has taught me something new. Every assignment pushed me to become better, whether it meant working under immense time pressure, travelling constantly or putting in long hours.

One experience I’ll never forget was working with Aishwarya on ‘Robot’ in South America. We worked from 5 a.m. to 7 p.m. every day for 33 days without a break. That experience made me quicker, more disciplined and far more efficient. My work on ‘Robot’, ‘Action Replayy’ and ‘Guzaarish’ received tremendous appreciation long before Instagram and social media became part of our lives. Word of mouth travelled across the world, and the love and respect I received from the actresses I worked with remain among my biggest blessings.

Since your breakthrough with ‘Rangeela’, you’ve worked on more than 200 films. How have beauty and styling evolved over the years?

My work has evolved tremendously over the years, but one thing has remained constant — my love for soft, natural glamour. Chic, minimal makeup and bouncy, effortless hair have always been my signature style, and it makes me feel proud that what I introduced decades ago continues to be embraced by today’s generation. From Alia Bhatt and Anushka Sharma to Khushi Kapoor, natural beauty is very much in vogue.

Trends will always come and go, but natural chic glamour is timeless. Knowing that I’ve helped set that benchmark fills me with gratitude and motivates me to continue creating looks that celebrate individuality rather than temporary trends.

In an age dominated by filters and social media aesthetics, how do you define true beauty?

In today’s world of social media, what matters most is staying true to your craft instead of blindly following trends. I believed in my own style and took it to another level, becoming a game changer in both the Bollywood and the bridal space. After ‘Jodhaa Akbar’, brides around the world realised they could look like stars on their wedding day with soft, natural glamour rather than heavy makeup.

I feel privileged to have set that benchmark. My philosophy has always been, ‘Less is more’. When your hair and makeup are natural and elegant, your confidence shines through and you don’t need filters or excessive editing. Long before social media made Cannes a global spectacle, I had the honour of styling Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor for several memorable appearances. At the end of the day, your work speaks for itself, and that’s something no trend or algorithm can take away.

You’ve styled high-profile weddings in India and abroad. How do you balance glamour with individuality for every bride?

My bridal journey began soon after ‘Devdas’, when a bride from London booked me for her week-long wedding along with her sisters and mother. Styling all of them — from their hair and makeup to draping their outfits — gave me the confidence to believe I could create something truly special for brides.

My Bollywood work opened many doors, but I realised that staying true to my signature soft-glam style was what really set me apart. That approach took me to some of the biggest weddings around the world, and I’m deeply grateful for the love and trust my brides have placed in me over the years. My motto has always been simple: Stay true to your style, always do your best and God will do the rest.

You’ve built a successful academy and mentored thousands of aspiring artists. What qualities are essential for building a lasting career in the beauty industry?

My academy has truly been a blessing. Having trained more than 60,000 makeup artists around the world, nothing gives me greater joy than seeing my students succeed.

Today, social media can bring instant recognition, but lasting success comes from consistency, humility and hard work. Be open to learning, accept feedback gracefully and never stop improving. Talent is important, but so is your attitude. I always encourage my students to stay disciplined, learn quick problem-solving skills, and remember that slow and steady really does win the race.

The beauty and entertainment industries can be highly competitive and demanding. How have you navigated the challenges throughout your journey?

The biggest challenge in this industry is managing your time while remaining polite and accommodating. If you can master that, nothing is impossible. I’ve always believed in making every situation lighter with my positive attitude and my favourite phrase, “Yes, darling!” When you genuinely enjoy what you do, work never feels like pressure — it feels like a celebration. That’s what has kept me going all these years.

As the industry’s understanding of gender and self-expression has evolved, how important have inclusivity and representation been to you, both as an artist and a public figure?

When I started my career, the industry was far more gender-biased than it is today. But I always believed that true talent and artistry matter more than anything else. Being naturally effeminate never held me back — in fact, it helped me build wonderful relationships with the actresses and brides I worked with. Love and respect always mattered more to me than prejudice.

In those days, men were generally makeup artists and women were hairstylists, but I broke those conventions and helped bring a new level of respect to the profession. Today, I’m proud that talent matters far more than gender, and that gives me immense happiness. Acting in the Tamil film ‘I’ alongside Amy Jackson and Vikram was another memorable chapter that broadened my journey.

My message is simple: Love yourself, believe in yourself and spread love. Your success and hard work will always speak louder than anything else.

As someone who has constantly reinvented yourself while remaining relevant across generations, what legacy would you like to leave behind?

My greatest legacy will be the confidence I’ve been able to give others. Whether through my academy or my work, I’ve always wanted people to believe that they can build a successful and respectable career, regardless of their background, age or the challenges they face.

Looking back, I feel humbled and grateful. Reinventing yourself is important, but staying true to your passion is even more important. Create your own niche, work hard and never stop learning. When you love what you do, your passion becomes your greatest profession. Love and blessings to everyone. God bless us all.