Exclusive! Celebrity mehendi artist Veena Nagda on Natasha Dalal-Varun Dhawan’s wedding: The bride shared ideas for mehendi; the groom got an ‘Om’ and 'V heart N' inscribed

Mehendi artist Veena Nagda has achieved celebrity status thanks to her clientele which comprises the who's who of Bollywood. From Deepika Padukone to Alia Bhatt and Sonam Kapoor–everyone has had her apply henna to their palms. The celebrated artist was recently invited to Varun Dhawan and Natasha Dalal’s wedding too. Speaking exclusively to ETimes, Veena reveals that she has been the family's go-to mehendi artist for decades.

“I have known Lali ji (Varun's mother Lali Dhawan) for a long time; she used to come to Sunita ji’s (Kapoor) residence during Karwa Chauth where I used to apply mehendi.Anil ji doesn’t like the smell of mehendi but Sunita ji always applies henna on the festival. In fact, I'd also applied mehendi on Srideviji’s palms on her first Karwa Chauth. So when it was time for Varun-Natasha’s wedding, it had to be me. Lali ji even told me to recreate my traditional intricate designs for the family wedding,” shares a proud Veena.
Speaking about the wedding, the artist had also received several designs from the bride Natasha, who wanted her mehendi to be in sync with her wedding day ensemble. “Everyone else had applied mehendi a day before Natasha. I didn't know that she was a designer but when she shared several beautiful designs and ideas, I followed the same. Natasha got her feet hennaed a day before the ceremony and, on the day of the ceremony, we applied mehendi on her hands," she informs.

Ask her as to why did the bride choose to go light with the mehendi and Veena attributes it to her taste. "She is the bride; it has to be her choice. I strongly believe that the bride should be happy and she was, so I am glad. Varun also loved her mehendi. In fact, he also got a bit applied on his palm. Lali ji had told me the previous day to start the mehendi with an ‘Om’. So, for Varun, it was only ‘Om’ and a ‘V heart N’," she smiles.