This is the third time the illustrious filmmaker Bhansali entrusted Preetisheel, the first two films being Bajirao Mastani and Padmaavat. After the tremendous response to Gangubai Kathiawadi, Preetisheel has been feeling overwhelmed.

“I’m overwhelmed with all the appreciation. Designing characters takes a lot of patience, time and thoughts,” quips the expert known for her look transformations in many Bollywood and Southern movies too. “When my work gets recognition and is appreciated, honestly there is nothing more valuable than that. I am thankful for the faith Bhansali Sir has put in my work and the freedom he has given me to work on the looks,” says Preetisheel.

Preetisheel adds, “It’s also heartening to see the number of messages I receive from my well wishers. When I see how much the young generation of makeup and prosthetic artists are keen to learn from me, it really leaves me speechless. I would just like to thank everybody for valuing our work — the directors, actors, artists, audiences and my entire team at Da Makeup Lab.”

After working on Ranveer Singh’s character as the Maratha Peshwa Bajirao in Bajirao Mastani, Preetisheel again managed to stun everyone by curating the look of Ranveer as the evil ruler Alauddin Khilji in Padmaavat. This as well as the characters of Deepika Padukone as Rani Padmavati and Shahid Kapoor as Maharawal Ratan Singh won her humongous praise from all quarters. And now with Gangubai Kathiawadi it’s happening all over again.

Starting out a decade ago, Preetisheel received the ‘National Film Award for Best Makeup’ for the pre-Mughal historical epic Nanak Shah Fakir. She has also handled character transformations for various movies like Chhichhore, 102 Not Out, Mulk, Bala, Thackeray, Mom, Andhadhun, Housefull 4 and the more recently released Pushpa – The Rise. Along with her partner-husband Mark D’souza, she runs India’s premier makeup and prosthetic outfit Da Makeup Lab which is a landmark in Mumbai’s posh seaside locality of Versova.

But when it comes to compliments, she almost gets teary-eyed when she recalls a time she took her mom to meet the majestic filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali.

For the record, Preetisheel has done a hatrick with Bhansali, having worked for the awe-inspiring maker, first on looks of Ranveer Singh for the superhit Bajirao Mastani, then on looks of Ranveer (who can forget that Alauddin Khilji getup), Deepika Padukone and Priyanka Chopra for another blockbuster Padmaavat. And she is working with the prolific filmmaker once again where she is curating Alia Bhatt’s look for his upcoming Gangubai Kathiawadi.

“Sanjay Sir is a gem of a person,” says Preetisheel. “He understands my work and gives me space,” she adds, stating that she has had some of her best experiences working for his movies. In a recent interview, Preetisheel recalled a time, when once she took her mom to meet Bhansali.

“When I took my mom to meet him, he told her — She (Preetisheel) does not need people like us. We need people like her!”

“Imagine how proud that made me. And imagine how proud my mom felt. It was one of the best moments of my career,” adds the look transformation wiz.