............................................................................Film & Entertainment

Cory Walia : Makeup artist to the stars

Cory Walia is one of the most sought after and distinguished makeup artists today. Born to a Sikh father and a Maharashtrian mother, Cory was named Karamjit Singh Walia. As a child, Cory would watch his mother and grandmother applying makeup and thus developed a strong fascination for the art. However, before embarking on a glamorous career in the make up field, he entered his family's liquor business.

Cory's life took a turn for the better when one day, he chanced upon a poster which read "Doing what you like is freedom, but liking what you do is life." These words altered his perception of life. He gave up his Rs 6 crore business and went to the United States where he did all kinds of odd jobs in the make up field. He also picked up some valuable points regarding the make up field while in the US. After returning to India, Cory became assistant to Jojo, one of the top makeup artists of the time. Given his knack for makeup, it did not really take long for Cory to carve a niche in tinsel town and in the fashion circuit.

With an illustrious career spanning more than 13 years, Cory has been part of various promotional campaigns and has also anchored shows. The beauty segment of Zee Khoobsurat was at one time anchored by Cory. He has also represented cosmetic giants such as Lakme and Chambor. Cory has also done the make up for the recent Lakme, Aqua Finn and Smirrnoff advertisements

Talking about the standing of glamour makeup in India, Cory says, "Makeup in India has gone through a virtual revolution in the last 10 years." Cory even gets calls to do the makeup of socialities and celebrities wanting to look different. Taking about his favorites, the names of Aishwarya Rai , Malaika Arora and Lisa Ray come up. Each of these personalities have a different look, which requires different makeup styles. Cory is reluctant to enter the film industry, preferring to work only on a personal level . His standing in the industry sets him apart from the rest.

Author :Sharmistha Chatterjee