menuthe

The Beauty of Real: Why Mitesh Rajani’s Take on Makeup Feels Like a Breath of Fresh Air

By Amy & Srinu Regeti — The Regeti’s | South Asian Wedded Life (SAWL)

(As seen on The Masoom Minawala Show)

image 14

A Beauty Conversation That Stopped Us in Our Tracks

Every once in a while, an interview comes along that completely shifts how you see something you thought you already knew.


For us, that moment came when we watched Mitesh Rajani sit down with Masoom Minawala on The Masoom Minawala Show — and talked about beauty with a kind of raw honesty you don’t often hear anymore.

Mitesh, the quiet genius behind some of Bollywood’s most iconic looks, doesn’t just talk about foundation and concealer — he talks about freedom.


Freedom from filters.
Freedom from rules.
Freedom to show up as yourself.

And as photographers who have spent almost 20 years capturing real faces, real brides, and real emotions — we couldn’t agree more.


What We Loved Most About Mitesh’s Message

His philosophy mirrors what we’ve always believed behind the lens — that beauty is deeply personal.

Here are a few moments that stood out to us:

  • “Dark circles aren’t flaws.”
    Mitesh reframes them as natural depth — almost like built-in eyeshadow. We’ve always said it: natural contrast photographs beautifully.
  • Less foundation, more face.
    The more your skin breathes, the more alive your images feel. Over-coverage can mute personality — and photography loves skin that reflects light.
  • Powders and tinted moisturizers are underrated.
    It’s not about the product but the purpose. Every layer should enhance your features, not hide them.
  • Confidence > Conformity.
    South Asian women have been taught to correct, conceal, and compare — but Mitesh’s message reminds us to celebrate, not erase.

Why This Conversation Matters for Brides

For our South Asian and fusion brides, this perspective is everything. Weddings are where beauty often becomes performance — where makeup turns into a mask rather than a reflection of self.

But imagine walking down the aisle feeling like you. Not filtered, not contoured beyond recognition — just radiant, rested, and real.

That’s the beauty Mitesh is redefining, and it’s the same honesty we aim to capture in every frame.

The Regetis Indian Bridal Makeup Minimalistic

About Masoom Minawala

For those who may not know her, Masoom Minawala is a global powerhouse — influencer, entrepreneur, and storyteller who has been championing Indian talent on a world stage.

From Cannes to CNN’s 20 Under 40, she’s built her career on authenticity — and this conversation with Mitesh is no exception. Her ability to host with empathy and curiosity made this one of the most refreshing beauty conversations we’ve ever seen.

🎧 Watch the full episode here:
👉 Mitesh Rajani on The Masoom Minawala Show


Our Takeaway

We live in an age of filters and fast fixes — but beauty, like photography, isn’t about perfection.
It’s about light, expression, and how you feel when you see yourself.

And just like a great photograph, true beauty doesn’t need to announce itself — it just needs to be felt.


the Regetis black low res 1

If you’re a bride planning your wedding for 2026, take a cue from Mitesh Rajani’s wisdom — choose comfort, confidence, and authenticity over trends.


And if you want your images to feel the same way, we’d love to tell your story.

📅 Book a Zoom consultation with The Regeti’s
💛 Because beauty, like love, is best when it’s real.

0 comments
Add a comment...

Your email is never published or shared. Required fields are marked *

    South Asian Wedded Life
    The Regeti's FaceBook Icon
    The Regeti's Instagram Icon
    The Regeti's Pinterest Icon

    That little spritz of perfume before the veil goes down — it's such a small moment but I always catch my breath when I see it happen. Kavya's mehndi was still fresh, her hands moving carefully so the design wouldn't smudge, and she was laughing at something just out of frame. This is the kind of candid I live for during getting-ready time: not posed, just real.

These quiet minutes before a wedding say so much about who someone is. Tell me — what's your favorite getting-ready ritual, perfume, jewelry, first look with a parent? Drop it below, and if you're planning a fusion wedding of your own, send us a DM to chat about your day.

@theregetis · Photographer
@njaree.monet · Wedding Planner
@djdlux_spinwax · DJ
@reverieroseillust · Live wedding painter
@goodearthflowers · Florist
@beautyglambymaria · Makeup and Hair
@stonewallgolfclub · Venue
@theeventgroupinternational · Wedding Planner
@ceremonyofficiants · Officiant
@house_of_sweetness · Cake Designer
    This is the shot you can't pose. Her reading whatever was on that card, the smile sneaking out before she even finishes it, him catching it out of the corner of his eye — that's the kind of moment we're scanning for all day at a wedding. Not just the couple. The whole room reacting around them.

Kavya & Kyle's day at Stonewall Golf Club was full of these little side-stories happening in the crowd while the main event unfolded up front. Years from now, this is the photo that gets pulled out and someone says "I remember exactly what she was laughing about." Tell us in the comments what moment from your own wedding you wish someone had caught on camera.

@theregetis · Photographer
@njaree.monet · Wedding Planner
@djdlux_spinwax · DJ
@reverieroseillust · Live wedding painter
@goodearthflowers · Florist
@beautyglambymaria · Makeup and Hair
@stonewallgolfclub · Venue
@theeventgroupinternational · Wedding Planner
@ceremonyofficiants · Officiant
@house_of_sweetness · Cake Designer
    Can we talk about these iridescent roses for a second? Kavya's florist tucked them in with the orchids and delphinium and I about dropped my camera. That little shimmer catching the light against all that ivory and lace — it's the kind of detail you don't notice until you're editing at 11pm and suddenly you're grinning at your screen.

This is why I always tell couples: let your bouquet have a little personality. It doesn't have to match everything perfectly. Kavya and Kyle's whole day was full of these small, unexpected touches that made it so them. Tell me — would you ever go for unexpected color or texture in your bouquet, or keep it classic? Drop a comment, I love hearing this stuff. And if you're planning a fusion wedding and want photos that catch these details, send us a DM to chat.

@theregetis · Photographer
@njaree.monet · Wedding Planner
@djdlux_spinwax · DJ
@reverieroseillust · Live wedding painter
@goodearthflowers · Florist
@beautyglambymaria · Makeup and Hair
@stonewallgolfclub · Venue
@theeventgroupinternational · Wedding Planner
@ceremonyofficiants · Officiant
@house_of_sweetness · Cake Designer
    This is the row I always look for. Not the aisle, not the mandap — the row of family members leaning into each other, watching someone they love start a new chapter. Grandmother in green, mom in red, little cousin already bored and ready for the reception — that's a whole generation in one frame, and in ten years this photo is going to mean even more than it does right now.

Kavya and Kyle's day at Stonewall Golf Club gave us so many moments like this — the quiet ones in between the big ones. Got a wedding full of family you want captured right? Send us a DM, let's talk.

@theregetis · Photographer
@njaree.monet · Wedding Planner
@djdlux_spinwax · DJ
@reverieroseillust · Live wedding painter
@goodearthflowers · Florist
@beautyglambymaria · Makeup and Hair
@stonewallgolfclub · Venue
@theeventgroupinternational · Wedding Planner
@ceremonyofficiants · Officiant
@house_of_sweetness · Cake Designer
    That forehead kiss right after the vows – the one where everything finally goes quiet for a second. Her mehndi still fresh, his hand steady on her arm, and neither of them in a rush to let go. This is the kind of moment we live for: two families, two traditions, one really good hug.

Fusion weddings have a rhythm all their own, and we love figuring out how to capture it right. If you're planning one, let's chat about your day.

@theregetis · Photographer
@njaree.monet · Wedding Planner
@djdlux_spinwax · DJ
@reverieroseillust · Live wedding painter
@goodearthflowers · Florist
@beautyglambymaria · Makeup and Hair
@stonewallgolfclub · Venue
@theeventgroupinternational · Wedding Planner
@ceremonyofficiants · Officiant
@house_of_sweetness · Cake Designer
    Look at where they snuck off to — past the reception, down a quiet path, just the two of them. You can see her mehndi peeking out from under his hand, and that's the detail that gets me every time. Two families, two cultures, one quiet kiss before the whole world gets loud again at the reception.

This is why we love getting couples alone for even five minutes on a wedding day. The best moments aren't posed, they just happen when you give people space to be together. Kavya and Kyle, thank you for letting us catch this one.

Planning a fusion wedding and want photos that actually feel like you? Send us a DM, we'd love to chat.

@theregetis · Photographer
@njaree.monet · Wedding Planner
@djdlux_spinwax · DJ
@reverieroseillust · Live wedding painter
@goodearthflowers · Florist
@beautyglambymaria · Makeup and Hair
@stonewallgolfclub · Venue
@theeventgroupinternational · Wedding Planner
@ceremonyofficiants · Officiant
@house_of_sweetness · Cake Designer
    That little embroidered handkerchief tucked into her mehndi-covered hand? That's not an accident. Someone packed that for exactly this moment. Kavya wasn't posing for us here — she was wiping her eyes mid-vow, and Kyle had no idea the camera caught it because his back was turned. Those are my favorite frames, the ones nobody's performing for.

Twenty years of shooting weddings and I still get a little emotional watching a bride try to hold it together before she just... can't. This is why we never stop shooting during the quiet in-between seconds. Tell me — did your wedding have a moment like this one? Drop it in the comments, or DM us if you're planning your big day and want photos that catch the real stuff too.

@theregetis · Photographer
@njaree.monet · Wedding Planner
@djdlux_spinwax · DJ
@reverieroseillust · Live wedding painter
@goodearthflowers · Florist
@beautyglambymaria · Makeup and Hair
@stonewallgolfclub · Venue
@theeventgroupinternational · Wedding Planner
@ceremonyofficiants · Officiant
@house_of_sweetness · Cake Designer
    Family portraits can go two ways: everyone's perfectly posed and smiling right on cue, or you catch the one little grin that makes it real. Kavya and Kyle got both in this one — look at that flower girl leaning in like she's got a secret. That's the moment we're always watching for in between the "official" shots.

Stonewall Golf Club gave us the prettiest backdrop for golden hour, but honestly, it's the people in front of it that make these photos worth keeping. Planning a fusion wedding of your own? DM us — we'd love to hear about it.

@theregetis · Photographer
@njaree.monet · Wedding Planner
@djdlux_spinwax · DJ
@reverieroseillust · Live wedding painter
@goodearthflowers · Florist
@beautyglambymaria · Makeup and Hair
@stonewallgolfclub · Venue
@theeventgroupinternational · Wedding Planner
@ceremonyofficiants · Officiant
@house_of_sweetness · Cake Designer
    Before any of the big moments at Stonewall Golf Club —  before the vows, before Kyle saw Kavya walk in — there was this. Lace caught in a window light, quiet for about thirty seconds before the room filled up with people and noise and joy.

I always try to get this shot early, while the dress is still just hanging there, because you can actually see the handwork. The florals, the beading, the little details someone sat and stitched for hours that'll get covered by jewelry and a veil in ten minutes. This is the only time they're the main event.

If you're planning a fusion wedding and want photos that catch both the big emotional stuff AND the quiet craftsmanship, let's talk. Drop a comment or DM us — would love to hear about your dress.

@theregetis · Photographer
@njaree.monet · Wedding Planner
@djdlux_spinwax · DJ
@reverieroseillust · Live wedding painter
@goodearthflowers · Florist
@beautyglambymaria · Makeup and Hair
@stonewallgolfclub · Venue
@theeventgroupinternational · Wedding Planner
@ceremonyofficiants · Officiant
@house_of_sweetness · Cake Designer

#SouthAsianWeddings #IndianWeddings #WeddingPhotographersInVirginia #IndianWeddingPhotographersInVirginia #FusionWedding #DesiFusionWedding #WeddingDressDetails #WeddingPhotography #RegetisPhotography
    That little pause right before the ring goes on — groom's eyebrows pulled together in concentration, trying to get it just right while everyone holds their breath. You can tell he's been thinking about this moment for a while. Kavya and Kyle's ceremony at Stonewall Golf Club had this gorgeous soft light pouring through the sheer curtains, and honestly the officiant's smile in the background made the whole thing feel even warmer.

Fusion weddings like this one are some of our favorite to shoot — two families, two backgrounds, one really beautiful day. If you're planning a cross-cultural celebration and want photos that capture all of it, send us a DM or hop on a consultation call with us.

@theregetis · Photographer
@njaree.monet · Wedding Planner
@djdlux_spinwax · DJ
@reverieroseillust · Live wedding painter
@goodearthflowers · Florist
@beautyglambymaria · Makeup and Hair
@stonewallgolfclub · Venue
@theeventgroupinternational · Wedding Planner
@ceremonyofficiants · Officiant
@house_of_sweetness · Cake Designer

#SouthAsianWeddings #IndianWeddings #WeddingPhotographersInVirginia #IndianWeddingPhotographersInVirginia #FusionWedding #DesiFusionWedding #WeddingPhotography #RegetisPhotography #VirginiaWeddingPhotographer #RingExchange #StonewallGolfClub
    The thing about fusion weddings is that the big moments get all the attention — the baraat, the lehenga changes, the reception entrance — but sometimes it's a detail this small that tells the whole story. Kavya's mehndi, still fresh from the days before, resting in Kyle's hand as they exchanged vows. Two families, two traditions, one morning that probably felt like a whirlwind to plan but looked like this when it mattered.

I live for these in-between frames. Planning a fusion celebration of your own? Send us a DM — we'd love to hear how you're blending your traditions.

@theregetis · Photographer
@njaree.monet · Wedding Planner
@djdlux_spinwax · DJ
@reverieroseillust · Live wedding painter
@goodearthflowers · Florist
@beautyglambymaria · Makeup and Hair
@stonewallgolfclub · Venue
@theeventgroupinternational · Wedding Planner
@ceremonyofficiants · Officiant
@house_of_sweetness · Cake Designer

#SouthAsianWeddings #IndianWeddings #WeddingPhotographersInVirginia #IndianWeddingPhotographersInVirginia #DesiFusionWedding #FusionWedding #SouthAsianBride #WeddingPhotography #RegetisPhotography
    What does healthy assimilation actually look like?

And can we ask immigrants to respect the civic expectations of the country they move to without asking them to erase their culture?

We talk about:

• Assimilation vs. cultural erasure
• Indian-American identity across generations
• What American-born children of immigrants inherit and change
• Why shared civic rules matter
• Baraats, noise ordinances, permits and public spaces
• The 90-foot Statue of Hanuman in Texas
• Other monumental religious statues already standing in the United States
• Religious freedom and land-use rules
• America’s complicated history with religious liberty
• Legitimate criticism vs. ethnic prejudice
• Why culture does not automatically create an exemption from civic expectations
• Why individual behavior should not become a stereotype about an entire ethnic group
• Why sources matter when discussing immigration, race, religion and culture
• What happens when research changes your original opinion

Research changed the question.

If monumental Christian and other religious imagery already exists across the American landscape, what consistent principle would make Hindu religious imagery different?

That is the standard SAWL wants to bring to difficult conversations:

Ask the question.

Find the evidence.

Apply the standard consistently.

And be willing to change your mind.

SOURCES / FURTHER READING:

Pew Research Center — research on Indian Americans, identity and discrimination

U.S. Department of Justice — Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA)

U.S. Constitution — First Amendment

Library of Congress — religion and religious dissent in colonial America

World Bank — solid waste management research in South Asia

Sri Ashtalakshmi Temple — Statue of Union / Hanuman, Sugar Land, Texas

Our Lady of the Rockies — Butte, Montana

Christ of the Ozarks — Eureka Springs, Arkansas

New Jersey Buddhist Vihara — Franklin Township, New Jersey
    To cake or not to cake is the question — and honestly, there's no debate here. 🍰 Five tiers, a trail of blush and ivory blooms cascading down the side, champagne flutes standing at attention... this cake table was doing its job before a single guest even sat down. We always love the quiet minutes before the reception kicks off, when every detail is still perfectly untouched.

Which tier are you starting with — top or bottom? Tell us in the comments, or DM us if you're planning a celebration of your own.

@alexfox_reynolds

@ritzcarltonwashingtondc @smevents
    Because the decor isn't supposed to be the shot — it's supposed to frame it. That gorgeous floral hupa is doing exactly what it should here: holding space around what actually matters, two families standing together for the first time as one. I could shoot this same moment against a plain wall and it would still hit just as hard, because the real shot is in the faces, not the flowers.

This is the kind of thing 20 years behind the camera teaches you — the prettiest backdrop in the world doesn't mean anything if you miss the moment inside it. Tell me, how many photos did your photographers take of your parents at your wedding? Not there yet? Let us save your date! Drop it below, or DM us to talk about your day.

@alexfox_reynolds

@smevents @ritzcarltonwashingtondc