Aamir Khan mourns loss of veteran makeup artist Vikram Gaikwad: 'He was a true master of his craft'

Veteran makeup artist Vikram Gaikwad, who lent his transformative touch to some of Indian cinema’s most iconic characters, passed away on Saturday in Mumbai at the age of 61. Actor Aamir Khan, who worked closely with Gaikwad on several landmark films, paid tribute to the late artist with an emotional note.In a message shared by Aamir Khan Productions on Instagram, the superstar expressed his deep sorrow over Gaikwad's passing.He recalled their collaborations on films like Dangal, PK, and Rang De Basanti, crediting Gaikwad for bringing unforgettable characters to life on screen."It is with great sorrow that we say goodbye to the legendary make-up artist Vikram Gaikwad. I had the pleasure of working with him in films like Dangal, PK, and Rang De Basanti, to name a few," read the tribute. "He was a true master of his craft and his work transformed many actors into unforgettable characters that will live forever on screen. Heartfelt condolences to the family from me, and everyone at AKP. We will miss you Dada."National award-winning artist Vikram Gaikwad passed away at 61Gaikwad, a two-time National Award winner, had been admitted to Hiranandani Hospital in Powai three days before his death due to blood pressure-related issues. His younger brother, Dr Prasanna Paranjpe, told PTI, “He was quite well when he was admitted. We were not expecting that he would pass away so soon. His BP was going low, and we were not able to revive him.”With a career spanning decades, Gaikwad’s work left a significant mark across Hindi, Marathi, Bengali and South Indian cinema. He was known for his craft in films like 83, Sanju, Shakuntala Devi, Tanhaji: The Unsung Warrior, 3 Idiots, Omkara, Balgandharva, Katyar Kaljat Ghusali, Ponniyin Selvan, and O Kadhal Kanmani.He received his first National Film Award for Best Makeup Artist in 2012 for The Dirty Picture, followed by another in 2014 for the Bengali film Jaatishwar.Vikram Gaikwad’s last rites will be performed at the Shivaji Park crematorium in Dadar.