*His clients range from Julia Roberts and Madonna to Kareena Kapoor and Aishwarya Bachchan. And at the age of 27, he has set up a multinational business in mehendi and designs.
High society divas, tycoon families and global fashion toppers clamour for his creations. He has found a place in the Guinness Book of Records as the fastest mehndi artist in the world and his work is on permanent display in London's Royal Victoria and Albert Museum. Enough said. Over to Ash Kumar in conversation with Johnson Thomas.* *When were you first noticed in the market? *BBC television was doing a show on the therapeutic qualities of *mehndi*. My designs were featured. Before I knew it, I had the record of being the fastest *mehndi* artist in the world. "I admire artistes like Rahman who won't be able to explain why he uses a violin and not a sitar, a trumpet and not a saxophone, for a particular piece of music." Then, popular Indian culture became even bigger in London. Bollywood was saluted and artists and artisans are always called upon to showcase their skills. I wanted to have a product range and an education centre promoting the art of *mehndi*.. and now I do! Today, I'm obsessive about doing *mehndi * shoots and make-up. I'm quite shocked! Even I didn't know I had it in me. *I've heard that music inspires your designs. *Now, that's a complicated area to get into. I just can't go around saying that Indian music, classical as well as popular sets off images and patterns in my mind, without getting into the specifics. *Okay, let me ask you which singers inspire you? *My favourite singers are A R Rahman, Ila Arun, Shubha Mudgal, Asha Bhosle, Lata Mangeshkar and Alka Yagnik. I admire artistes like Rahman who won't be able to explain why he uses a violin and not a sitar, a trumpet and not a saxophone, for a particular piece of music. I also admire Javed Akhtar who doesn't have to tell you why he's using the word *phool* and not *gulab*, why *ankh* and not *aankhen*. Art is best left unexplained. That's why I can't talk about the relationship of my designs with music. I cannot explain why I work leaf motifs into my designs, or add glitter and Swaroski crystals. Paisleys are also part of my designs. I look at design in the way Javed saab approaches lyrics. I don't ask myself why a leaf pattern instead of a paisley, why a petal instead of a flower. And I am inspired by colours, embroidery and films. I can be inspired as much by Hollywood's *Chicago* as I can be by *Jodhaa Akbar. * http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=e0eb1d23-948e-41de-84f3-7c73e485e6f1&&Headline=Weaving+the+EMmehndi%2fEM+magic -- regards, Vithur A.R.RAHMAN - MY BREATH & LIFE FORCE
