No Indian festivity or ritual is complete without the earthy fragrance of mehendi that binds families, generations, and traditions. For Veena Nagda, the most celebrated mehendi artist in India, this tradition is not just a profession but a way of life. Her journey from humble beginnings in a conservative household to becoming Bollywood’s favourite is nothing short of a film script.
Humble Beginnings
Born into an orthodox Gujarati family originally from Kutch but settled in Bombay, Veena’s world was rooted in simplicity and discipline. With no college education, she, along with her mother and five sisters, began her journey by doing embroidery and traditional Kacchi work.
The turning point came when her sister recommended her to a doctor in Bandra, saying they might give gifts in return for applying mehendi. At the wedding, actress Poonam Dhillon happened to be present and requested Veena to apply mehendi on one hand. Impressed by the neatness of the design, Poonam asked her to do the other hand as well. That one moment sparked something in Veena and she begged her conservative parents to let her pursue this craft.
Stars, Secrets, and Shagun
Nagda shares various stories of bollywood stars.
The Kapoors
Sunita Kapoor, who she fondly remembers as her constant support, would always hold her hand. Sonam Kapoor, even as a child, was meticulous about design and pattern. “She knew what she wanted from a young age,” Veena recalls.
When asked about the difference between Bollywood weddings and regular weddings, she shared, “To me, a Bollywood wedding and a regular wedding feel the same. Same emotions, joy and the feeling of the daughter leaving her home.”
She shared a story of Anil Kapoor, who disliked the smell of mehendi so much that he wouldn’t enter the room—but was the first to walk in during Sonam’s mehendi function. An emotional moment for everyone.
Twinkle Khanna’s Surprise Mehendi
One day before Twinkle Khanna’s wedding, Veena received a call to apply mehendi for the bride and 10 others. She went to their home where Dimple Kapadia opened the door, and Twinkle, casually dressed in shorts, inspected the design. Only later did she reveal that it was her wedding the same evening. There were no grand bookings—just a car that came to pick Veena up from near her building.
Ranveer Singh and Deepika Padukone
Ranveer Singh, flamboyant and full of love, got mehendi done on himself for his wedding with Deepika. While Veena applied mehendi on Deepika, he remarked, “A queen is putting mehendi on another queen,” Veena recalls. He requested three stars and a deepak for Deepika. He even sat through it all, excitedly approving designs for his mother, sister, and bride.
Shilpa Shetty and The Iconic Lotus Mehendi
Shilpa Shetty wanted deities like Lakshmi and Ganpati on her hands. Veena advised against it, saying gods shouldn’t be drawn on hands. Instead, Shilpa chose symbolic designs of lotuses and mogras—which started a trend still popular today.
Others
Alia Bhatt, ever since her Student of the Year days, has loved circular mandala-style designs. Sridevi was a dear friend. So were her close clientele—Maheep Kapoor, Bhavna Pandey, Sunita Kapoor. Now, she does mehendi for their daughters too.
Television Stars
She fondly remembers Ankita Lokhande’s wedding, where the bride broke into a joyful dance right in the middle of her mehendi session as soon as Vicky Jain walked in. “She kept running back and forth with excitement,” Veena laughs.
Veena was also part of the 50th anniversary celebration of Ekta Kapoor’s mother, where she created special mehendi designs to mark the occasion.
Cricketers
Her work extends beyond film and fashion into the world of sports as well. She has adorned the hands of brides and family members during high-profile weddings, including those of cricketers Ravindra Jadeja, Harbhajan Singh, and Mona Patel’s daughter, where tradition met grandeur through her intricate designs.
The Ambani Chapter
Veena Nagda’s journey with the Ambani family began with a modest gesture, applying mehendi on Kokilaben Ambani’s hands for just ₹25. “That was just the beginning,” she says with a smile. From those early days, Veena became a trusted name in the household, working closely with Nita Ambani and eventually the next generation.
It was the Ambanis who gave her one of her most unexpected and prestigious opportunities: representing Indian culture at the Olympics. “People were shocked,” Veena recalls. “Who would imagine mehendi at the Olympics?” But what began as a surprise turned into a sensation. Fans from all over the world queued up. “I broke my own record—10 a.m. to 10 p.m. non-stop, and the line still didn’t end.”
In 2018, she handled the mehendi for both Isha Ambani’s grand wedding and Kapil Sharma’s marriage to Ginni Chatrath—two major events happening around the same time.
Her artistry has also travelled far and wide, from Japan and Greece to Bangkok and Vienna. In Udaipur, she applied mehendi for British actress Liz Hurley and was so engrossed in her work that, she chuckles, “I even forgot to take the payment!”
Silver, Gold, and Zardosi
Veena’s iconic silver and golden zardosi-style mehendi made its big debut in Bollywood with the Bole Chudiyan sequence from Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. The elaborate design became the talk of the town at the time. “I didn’t even know how to bill for that film,” she laughs. “They had to call me and tell me to come collect my payment—they gave me three cheques!”
In Dream Girl 2, she recreated her signature zardosi look again, blending tradition with a modern sparkle.
From Dharma Productions to Yash Raj Films and beyond, Veena never fails to bring cultural heritage to the glitz of Bollywood—turning mehendi into a visual language of emotion and beauty.
More Than Mehendi: Her Philosophy
The mehendi process takes 4–5 hours per bride, and during that time, conversations flow, laughter echoes, and sometimes even tears fall. “They open their hearts to me,” says Veena.
For her, mehendi is not a business but a blessing. “Client khush toh main khush,” she says with conviction. Money has never been the driving force—she still honors the price her mother once told her to charge. “Even if it’s the Ambani house, I go for the same rate. My mother always said—do it with love, not greed.”
Her humility touches even the most powerful. “Rupa Ben Mehta once told me, God isn’t here, but people like you are his medium,” Veena recalls, her voice soft with gratitude.
Mehendi and Meaning
To Veena, mehendi is not just an art. It’s an emotion, a bond, and a tradition she’s carried on her shoulders with humility. Whether it’s applying mehendi to the Ambanis or to a nervous bride next door, her mantra remains the same:
“Just happiness and love!”
For more such articles stay tuned at The World Times!
