This UK-based Malayali transforms herself into celebrities with just makeup! | Art and Culture

UK-based Malayali Nivya Vineesh’s makeup transformation posts are creating a stir on social media. Is this Nayanthara or her doppelganger? Is this Kamal Haasan or one of his deepfake videos? Nivya’s amazing makeovers will leave you in awe, and it’s all achieved with “just” makeup.

Nivya Vineesh’s transformation into Kamal Haasan remains one of her best works to date. Photo | Instagram

The Thrissur native was inspired to explore the power of makeup after she came across a video by makeup artist Kannan Rajamanickam on YouTube. Today, her Instagram handle niv_vin_arts has a huge fan following.

“I used to be very camera shy. However, during the Covid lockdown, I came across the work of Kannan Rajamanickam and was amazed. This new trend piqued my interest. I was in India during my pregnancy at the time and since I had a fascination with makeup, I brought a lot of cosmetics with me from the UK. I started experimenting with different personalities,” says Nivya.

Her transformation into Kamal Haasan remains one of her best works to date. “The response to this video was tremendous, generating almost two million views on YouTube. I received a lot of calls and direct messages, mostly from Tamil Nadu,” says Nivya, whose Mammootty recreation was also a big hit on social media.

From Sreedevi to Michael Jackson
Nivya’s makeup sketches feature celebrities like Sreedevi, Sachin Tendulkar, Suhasini, Shane Nigam, Surya, KS Chithra, Tamannaah Bhatia, Michael Jackson and others. The list goes on. She started with various Bigg Boss contestants and then progressed to celebrities.
“I quickly realized that people could understand my art better if they included celebrities,” she says. Nivya discovered that her art not only impressed the general public but also caught the attention of celebrities.

Her work has caught the attention of veteran actor Suhasini. Photos | Instagram

“(Actress and producer) Suhasini ma’am sent me a personal message and shared my work on her social media page. “Almost all Bigg Boss contestants and other artists have responded to my creations,” says Nivya, who completed her B.Sc. in Zoology from Sree Kerala Varma College, Thrissur.

Nivya explains that she uses different layers of makeup to recreate images on her face and that it is a tedious work. “There’s a lot of work and layering involved. Sometimes I spend five hours creating these faces. We have to focus on every little detail, be it the eyes, the curve of the mouth or the slope of the nose. These aspects are crucial and contribute to achieving the desired result. I often shortlist the celebrities after doing a lot of research,” she adds.

Nivya has been experimenting with Nayanthara’s different looks for the last few months. Photo | Instagram

Is she worried about the excessive use of cosmetics on the face? Yes! “It worries me sometimes, but for me it’s a work of art. I am aware of the side effects of too much makeup, but I want to continue this celebrity art for as long as possible,” she says. Has she ever considered a film career as a makeup artist or prosthetic artist? “(Laughs) That seems too far-fetched. I’ve never thought in that direction before,” says the digital content creator.