“There was something rare about Subbu," Anaita Shroff Adajania, Vogue’s fashion director reminisces working with the iconic makeup artist, Subhash Vagal, fondly called “Subbu”. "When he started in his industry, he was the only one who could do a clean contemporary look. Any face that he put his art to always had a fresh feel to it. It was almost as though you needed Subbu to know what your true potential was.” Vagal lost his battle to cancer today but his work will endure the test of time. Anushka Sharma who was a regular on the artist shared an emotional post about Vagal referring to him as a 'maestro'. The industry, including several Vogue staffers spoke in his memory.

“Subbu was a real genius. He was always the easiest person to work with, had a very quiet demeanour but was always sure of what he was doing. I’ve known him for a long time and I could always count on him. This is a great loss to me and our industry”

- Anaita Shroff Adajania, fashion director

“My permanent memory of Subbu is of his calming energy, forever smiling face and how skilfully and he worked. He made everyone on set feel at ease and I’ll never forget that amazing peaceful energy he brought onto a shoot every single time. He also did my makeup on my wedding day, and his energy was such that it helped my nerves on one of the most important days of my life. I will miss him dearly.”

- Priyanka Kapadia, associate fashion director

"I worked with Subbu on my wedding day. He was one of the nicest people I have known. It was like having a friend by my side."

-Renuka Modi, managing editor

“I met Subbu 19 years ago when we were both a part of a style and fashion portal. At a time when he was doing makeup for Kingfisher models and other big stars, he immediately agreed to do makeup and hair for my wedding for next to nothing. He came home, helped my mum and other family members as well. He was one of the softest, nicest, most grounded people I have had the privilege of knowing and working with.”

- Sheree Gomes Gupta, contributing editor

“He is one of the most real people I have met in the industry, we had a connect. When we last shot for the December 2019 cover of Vogue India, I uncharacteristically asked him for a selfie, although taking selfies is against my practice. I am deeply shocked to hear this news, it is a great loss.”

-Tarun Vishwa, photographer

Kiara Advani, photographed by Tarun Vishwa. Hair by Gabriel Georgiou. Makeup by Subhash Vagal © Tarun Vishwa

Anushka Sharma, Photographed by Tarun Vishwa. Hair by Yianni Tsapatori. Makeup by Subhash Vagal

Janhvi Kapoor, photographed by Prasad Naik. Hair by Yianni Tsapatori. Makeup by Subhash Vagal © Prasad Naik

Katrina Kaif, photographed by Signe Vilstrup. Hair by Daniel Bauer. Makeup by Subhash Vagal © Signe Vilstrup

Sonam Kapoor Ahuja, photographed by Signe Vilstrup. Hair by Gabriel Georgiou. Makeup by Subhash Vagal

Anushka Sharma, photographed by Suresh Natrajan. Hair by Kacper Raczkowski. Makeup by Subhash Vagal © Suresh Natrajan