Q. How did it all start; what brings you here; tell us about the inspiration behind the same.
I accidentally stumbled into tattooing while working various jobs after high school. While working as a DJ in a club, I saw someone with a tattoo and was fascinated by it. I wanted to learn about the science behind it and how it worked, so I bought a tattoo machine and experimented on myself since there were no tutorials available at the time, so it was completely hit and trial. My fascination with the art and science of tattooing inspired me to continue, and I started doing tattoos for friends for free. Word quickly spread since there were not many tattoo studios in India at that time, and I became the go-to tattoo artist in Delhi, which led to my business growing organically.
Q. Give us a glimpse of your venture, and what do you believe is the future of tattoos with your designs?
My venture started 20 years ago when I rented a small room in a salon in Vasant Vihar and began tattooing on weekends and evenings while also working full-time as an MBA intern. Despite juggling three different commitments, I became certain that I didn’t want to continue with my office job after completing my MBA. I informed my parents about my decision to pursue tattooing as a full-time profession, but understandably, they were apprehensive. To reassure them, I worked hard for a year and consistently earned twice the amount I made as an intern in a company.
I have always been independent and confident in my decisions, which is why I made the choice to leave my job and pursue tattooing full-time from my small cabin. As my passion for tattooing grew, I began to mentor younger artists such as Amar, who was my first intern. Together, we built up the business and expanded our team.
As our team grew and we needed more space, we opened a larger studio in GK1, which led to the closure of the Vasant Vihar studio. With the addition of more talented artists to our team, we eventually opened another studio in Gurgaon and another one in West Delhi’s Vegas Mall, Dwarka, bringing our team to a total of 24 artists. After some time, I decided to expand our business internationally and opened our first international studio in Luxembourg, where I have been based for the past year.
While I can’t predict the future, I prefer not to make big plans and instead enjoy the journey as things unfold. Right now, I am content with the progress we have made and I am excited to see where the future takes us.
Q. What are the different types of tattoo styles you’ve performed?
When I started as a tattoo artist, my shop was more of a street-style shop, and as a result, I’ve performed a wide range of tattoo styles. However, I specialize in portraits and realism, particularly colored realism, since no one was doing it in India at the time. I enjoyed taking on this challenge to do something unique.
Q. Which was the hardest tattoo you’ve ever had to do?
In my experience, every tattoo is challenging in its own way because there is no room for error in this art form. Even a seemingly simple tattoo like a small circle or a straight line requires precision and attention to detail to make it look perfect. To create a good tattoo, every single design, regardless of size or complexity, presents its own unique set of challenges. Therefore, I approach every tattoo with the same level of care and attention, whether it’s a simple circle or a complex portrait.
Q. How does it feel to be featured among the World’s Top 10 tattoo artists?
It feels good to be recognized as one of the top tattoo artists in the world, although I don’t take it too seriously. I know there are many talented artists out there who may not have been recognized yet. However, I am grateful for the recognition and strive to improve my work even more every day. It inspires me to push the boundaries and continue to innovate in my craft.
