Cate Blanchett hails Indian make-up artist Charu Khurana

NEW DELHI: Oscar-winning actress Cate Blanchett is all impressed by Indian make-up artist Charu Khurana, who fought a legal battle for six years against gender discrimination in the film industry.

Blanchett, 46, met Charu backstage during her visit here to be a part of 'Women in the World' summit.

"Charu, an extraordinary make-up artist, while she was applying lipstick to me, told me how she challenged the(ongoing practice) in Supreme Court that women cannot be make-up artists in Bollywood.

"She won the right to be a make-up artist and already, 400 women have become make-up artists in her way," the actress said.

The Supreme Court in November last year ordered Mumbai's Cine Costume Make-up Artists and Hair Dressers Association (CCMAA) to drop its "obstinacy" and allow women to register.

Prior to the judgment, only men were allowed to become make-up artists in the film industry while women were classified as hairdressers.