“Forget getting its due, most film award events such as Filmfare Awards, Screen Awards, Zee Awards and IIFA do not even have a category for best makeup and prosthetic,” rues Preetisheel, who leads the look design scenario in India.

Preetisheel received the National Film Award for Best Makeup for the pre-Mughal historical epic Nanak Shah Fakir based on the life of Guru Nanak, wherein she designed the looks for all the characters in the movie.

“The National Award is probably the only one which acknowledges and encourages makeup and prosthetic personnel by having a National Film Award for Best Makeup category,” she remarks.

Preetisheel’s list of accomplishments is huge. She has designed looks for a number of top artists in Bollywood’s box-office successes such as Bajirao Mastani, Padmaavat, Chhichhore, 102 Not Out, Mulk, Bala and Housefull 4.

Her look design for Ranveer Singh as the intimidating pre-Mughal era emperor Alauddin Khilji in the 2018 film Padmaavat was a rage. She also received widespread critical acclaim for designing the look for Nawazuddin Siddiqui for the 2019 film Thackeray;  the biopic on Shiv Sena supremo Balasaheb Thackeray. She received rave reviews and special praise for the way Nawazuddin resembled Thackeray.

Her other credits include movies such as Andhadhun, Thackeray, Shivaay, Haider, Hawaizaada, Rangoon, Brothers, Talwar, Finding Fanny, Parched, Mom, Romeo Akbar Walter (RAW), Malaal, Pati Patni Aur Woh, Raat Akeli Hai, Panga, Ujda Chaman, House Next Door, Bigil, Boomerang and 24.