Gen Z might remember Madhuri Dixit from her cameo in ‘Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani’, grooving to ‘Ghagra’ with effortless grace. But rewind to the 1990s, and Madhuri was not just a Bollywood superstar,she was the ultimate trendsetter. Long before beauty influencers, filters, and Instagram tutorials, Madhuri defined glam for an entire generation. Her signature makeup looks from films like Khal Nayak, Koyla, Pukar, and Hum Aapke Hain Koun were ahead of their time and continue to inspire today’s beauty trends.
In Khal Nayak, Madhuri wowed audiences with her fierce and confident persona, accentuated by bold, smoky eyeliner. Long before smoky eyes became a YouTube tutorial staple, she sported this dramatic look on the big screen. Paired with her expressive eyes and powerful screen presence, her eyeliner look became an instant classic equal parts sultry and sophisticated.
Decades before TikTok discovered the ‘latte makeup’ trend characterised by warm tones and soft, bronzed finishes. Madhuri was flaunting the look effortlessly in ‘Hum Aapke Hain Koun’. Her dewy skin, peachy cheeks and subtly bronzed eyes matched perfectly with traditional Indian attire, making the look both bridal and everyday-chic. It's the kind of clean, warm-toned glam that beauty lovers crave today.
In the song ‘Makhna’ from Bade Miyan Chote Miyan, Madhuri brought in a pop-diva energy with her cool-toned mauve lips. The shade offered a break from the traditional reds and pinks, adding a modern flair that was rare in 90s Bollywood. Today, that exact shade has made a massive comeback, with beauty brands promoting mauve as the ‘cool girl’ lip color.
Madhuri’s makeup in Koyla showcased rich, earthy tones, especially her iconic brick-colored lips. The brick-red and terracotta hues she wore have made a huge return in current makeup trends. These tones add depth and dimension to the face, and Madhuri paired them perfectly with minimal eye makeup and glowing skin, giving a timeless, elegant vibe.
Long before overlining lips became the hallmark of pop stars like Sabrina Carpenter, Madhuri was doing it in Pukar. Her full, perfectly outlined lips gave her a dramatic and well-defined pout that remains trendy even today. Her lip game in the film is a masterclass in contouring the mouth—subtle yet striking.
Madhuri Dixit didn’t just follow trends she set them. Whether she was dancing in vibrant lehengas or delivering emotionally powerful performances, her beauty looks were always on point. With every role, she redefined the idea of screen-ready glamour in India.
Even today, scrolling through vintage Bollywood clips reveals just how many of today’s beauty trends she predicted. From latte makeup to bold eyes and statement lips, Madhuri Dixit was and still is a beauty icon far ahead of her time.
