Industry stalwart, trailblazer, and 'dad who’s always up to take part in your reels', Mickey Contractor is a man of many talents. Mickey, with his exceptional talent, has emerged as an influential makeup artist whose illustrious career has spanned decades. He has etched his name in the annals of the beauty industry, having worked with on-screen legends, leaving an indelible mark on the Indian beauty landscape.
With Tira's 'For Every You' campaign, Mickey once again proved the value of enriching creative collaborations by teaming up with his longtime collaborator, Kareena Kapoor Khan. This partnership spurred our curiosity, leading to a quick tête-à-tête with Mickey about his own journey, working with Kareena and a few pearls of wisdom only a makeup maestro like him can share.
A celebrity not-so-meet-cute!
They say first impressions often form the foundation of any relationship. But does it hold true for everybody? Not Mickey and Bebo! "I first saw Kareena when she was knee-high. But my first real interaction with her happened on the sets of Kabhie Khushi Kabhie Gham," he reminisces. Elaborating further, he reveals, "I had already committed to doing Kajol and Jaya ji’s makeup, so when they asked me to do Bebo’s makeup as well, I said I couldn’t. And I remember Babita ji got really upset with me, saying “you don’t have time for MY daughter?! And Kareena and I didn’t collaborate for years to come after that.” Whoops! But it seems that the universe had other plans for Mickey and Bebo. "But see how life comes full circle…now Bebo and I have been working together on a regular basis for the last god knows how many years,” he introspects.
Mickey’s remarkable journey in the beauty industry
Mickey Contractor may have amassed decades of beauty industry experience but has remained grounded throughout it. It might have something to do with remembering your roots. For Mickey, his early inspiration came from the arts. “What initially drew me into the industry was purely the magic of cinema,” he confesses. And while he humbly shrugs our prompt about influencing many with his work, he graciously accepts that he’s managed to connect with a diverse audience through his work in Bollywood. “When people connect with something, it automatically has an influence on them, and that’s how trends come into being,” he admits.
But it wasn’t always smooth sailing either. Mickey reveals, “When I started out, the industry was a very different place”. He opines that makeup artists were not accorded the respect they receive today. In his experience, MUAs weren't considered integral to a project and access to a film's script was unheard of, and financial compensation was far from what it is now. Hinting at this personal experience as fuel to enrich his work he says, “At the risk of sounding pompous, I do feel like in my own way, I fought for my department as a whole. I pushed for higher wages, credit lines, refused to work with people that didn’t show respect for my craft, and in turn I made sure that people realised how much we contribute to the overall look and feel of a film.”
What makes a creative tag team like Bebo & Mickey?
In the world of cinema, long-term creative collaborations have often borne fruit. While a director-actor partnership can bring stories to life, an actor-makeup artist duo breathes life into characters. So, what has sustained Mickey and Kareena's enduring collaboration for so long? “I honestly feel that a lot of aspects need to align to form a solid working relationship. But I’d say most of it comes from the faith she has in me as an artist, and the mutual respect we share for each other's opinions. Also, the fact that in general, she’s an easygoing person and is an absolute joy to be around. There’s never a dull moment on set with her,” he reveals.
But it’s not always just energy or vibes that keeps a relation going. In any enduring relationship, it's vital to respect diverse opinions. “The beauty of working with Kareena is the fact that it’s never just about what SHE wants. Instead, it’s always about what her core team collectively feels it should be.” What has helped Mickey’s case is Bebo being a compelling subject as well. She has held the 'It' girl status on throughout the years. Her extensive curation of looks is still part of Pinterest boards today. And Mickey has been behind many of those that suit her personality and presence best. “Kareena is a very strong individual who carries her personality with great confidence and panache. Her versatility is pretty well known, so creating looks for her is never a big deal. It just flows naturally,” he beams with pride about his muse.
Mickey on Kareena’s look for Tira’s ‘For Every You’
Tira’s launch campaign 'For Every You' serves as a tribute to the many roles, emotions and moods that individuals experience. It aims to celebrate the role of beauty and how different people use it to express themselves. Through three films featuring Suhana Khan, Kiara Advani and Kareena Kapoor Khan—who each represent varied versions of beauty—it endeavours to accentuate how different mindsets, daily rituals and quirks make up a person and define their own version of beauty. To bring this emotion to life, Mickey reveals his process, “Tira as a brand is about celebrating people for their originality and individuality. While working on this TVC, the whole idea was to keep it organic and true to who Kareena really is, which is why this campaign came together so seamlessly."
Mickey's approach to his craft aligned perfectly with Tira's brand language. “I’ve always preferred to take the road less travelled. I like to think of myself as a leader, not a follower. I've never been one to follow trends. What works for one may not work for others. My preference has always been towards focusing on the person that’s in my chair, what they expect, and how to shine a light on their individuality and make them look like the best version of themselves”.
