Director Aditya Dhar recently took to social media to share a deeply personal and heartfelt tribute to his Head of Makeup, Preetisheel, calling her his “Sardarni sister from Pathankot” and reflecting on the incredible work she delivered on his espionage thriller Dhurandhar and its sequel. Dhar’s note offers fans an intimate look at the people behind the scenes who shape the magic of cinema.
In his post, Dhar wrote, “When I first heard her name, I’ll be honest, I was hesitant. There were all these opinions floating around, ‘she’s arrogant,’ ‘she’s too expensive,’ ‘she only does prestige projects.’ And then I met her. In that one meeting, all of it just fell apart. It reminded me of something I’ve learned the hard way in this industry: never build your truth on borrowed opinions. More often than not, they come from a place that has nothing to do with the person you’re about to meet. What I found in Preeti was not just an artist of extraordinary ability but a deeply warm, grounded and fiercely loving human being.”
Dhar went on to describe the countless hours Preetisheel and her team dedicated to the films. “There were more than a hundred character designs across both parts (some extremely complicated ones like Nawab Shafiq and Bade Saab). Thousands of faces shaped, aged, transformed. An army of nearly 20,000 junior artists brought to life through detail, texture and truth. And when most of the crew was waking up, they were already on set. And when everyone wrapped, they were still there—running on barely 2–3 hours of sleep, day after day, with a kind of relentless focus that you rarely witness. No complaints. No noise. Just pure commitment to the vision.”
Beyond technical mastery, Dhar emphasized Preetisheel’s intent and humanity: “For Preeti, it was never about ‘looks.’ It was always about people. About making sure every character, no matter how small, felt real, lived-in and honest. She treated each face with respect, as if it had a story worth telling. That’s rare.” The note also highlighted the personal bond they share, with Dhar calling her family and a constant in his life both in cinema and beyond.
Accompanying the post were images of Dhar and Ranveer Singh posing warmly with Preetisheel on outdoor locations, as well as group shots of the makeup team celebrating their elaborate prosthetic and character work—details central to the realism of the espionage thriller. Dhar concluded, “Preeti, thank you for standing by me, for believing in me when I couldn’t see it myself, and for pouring your heart into Dhurandhar the way you did. And this is just the beginning for us. Love, always.”
Dhar’s tribute shines a spotlight on the often-unseen heroes of filmmaking, reminding fans that behind every cinematic spectacle lies a team of dedicated artists whose passion and creativity bring stories to life.
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