CANVASing his art from thought to reality

What initially began as a stress buster for Vikas Malani, by drawing during his school days, evolved into a love for colours, patterns and design. Even the simplicity of drawing a line or a dot was full of creativity for him.
As his passion for drawing deepened, it naturally transitioned into tattooing. “I chose tattooing as a way to explore my creativity because it allows my artwork to travel the world on my clients,” begins the talented artist in an exclusive chat with The Pioneer. Tattooing is a profound commitment and a form of self-expression. And so, “Our patrons’ bodies are our canvas and from this concept, BodyCanvas was born. We transform their intangible thoughts into tangible realities.”
It was a small symbol that he drew on his friend’s nape, which was his first-ever tattoo work. Though nerve-wracking, he says, it was still an exhilarating experience.
Having always been fascinated by the art and culture surrounding tattoos, the ability to permanently adorn one’s body with meaningful designs and symbols deeply resonated with Vikas.
B-town’s favourite tattoo artist, his habitué includes Arpita Khan, Remo D’Souza, John Abraham, Alok Nath, Rapper Divine, Rhea Chakraborty, Shibani Dandekar, Shweta Tripathi Sharma, former Australian cricket team captain Michael Clarke, former CSK player, S. Badrinath, former Australian cricketer Michael Slater, Director Om Prakash Jha, Tina Ahuja, Nyaasa Devgan, Shaheen Bhatt, Krishna Jackie Shroff, Amruta Khanvilkar, Sneha Ullal, Aarya Babbar, Raghu & Rajiv of the Roadies fame, Debolina Bhattacharya aka ‘Gopi Bahu’, Disha Parmar, Dheeraj Dhoopar and his wife Vinny Arora, Ambika Anand, Instagram influencer Meethika Dwivedi, Ranveer Allahbadia (BEER BICEPS), acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal, and Bigg Boss fame Shiv Thakare, among many others.
“Working with high-profile people is more of a responsibility than a source of fame,” shares the tattooist, adding, “We must consistently maintain high-quality standards, which is a continual process. There’s pressure to perform and meet the expectations. Additionally, we adhere to European Union standards to ensure our Mumbai branch operates at the same level as our London studio. The challenges include standardising processes, consistently upgrading products and continuously learning new skills. Every client presents a unique challenge, pushing us to strive for a better balance in our work.”
He has also done the look test and tattoos for many Bollywood projects such as John Abraham for Pathaan, Aamir Khan for Dhoom 3, Anushka Sharma for Matru ki Bijlee ka Mandola, Priyanka Chopra for Pyaar Impossible, Fardeen Khan for All the Best, Anil Kapoor for Tashan, MS Dhoni for Max Oil TVC, Shahrukh Khan for Dish TV advertisement, and Sidharth Malhotra for the movie Gentleman. However, in the year 2023, Vikas and his team gained attention for being the creative force behind John Abraham’s bold, inked look in the Bollywood blockbuster Pathaan, where his sexy, bad-boy role created quite a sensation!
Speaking of this experience, he shared with us that the tattoo symbolised a transformation from someone who once loved their country to someone who now stands against authority or rules they believe to be unjust. “It’s a journey from patriotism to rebellion. In our first meeting, we brought numerous references based on the character description provided. We were pleasantly surprised to find that John’s team had also prepared a variety of options. Together, we collaborated to finalise a design that was unique and unlike anything seen before in a Bollywood movie.”
Working with Bollywood celebrities for him has been a mix of amusing stories and wonderful experiences. “John Abraham is one of the most humble actors I’ve met; working with him felt like collaborating with a friend. He has a deep respect for artists and creativity. After Pathaan crossed 1000 crores, he personally visited the studio to thank the entire team for his tattoo look in the movie. On his first visit for the look test, he was well-spoken and proactive, sharing his ideas and views on the design. He built a strong connection with the team and spent nearly 10 hours at our Bandra studio. How ‘awwww’dorable isn’t it? Then there was Aditi Rao Hydari, another delightful personality he recalls. “On her birthday, she wanted to gift herself some piercings. Her kindness and hospitality were remarkable; she offered us breakfast at her home and had a warm conversation about her love for art and paintings.”
Speaking of his latest work with the celebs,  he has worked with the talented Rajkumar Rao and Jaideep Ahlawat on a special tattoo design for an OTT platform project. As we head towards the end of this captivating chat, he highlights the top five tips for getting a tattoo:
Research and planning: Take your time to find a design that resonates with you and ensure it’s something you’ll love for years to come.
Choose a reputable tattoo artist, tattoo studio and tattoo products (vegan ink): Look for an artist with experience who uses high-quality brands of ink and needles, has good reviews, and has a portfolio that aligns with your desired style.
Prepare for the process: Understand the time, cost and discomfort involved and plan accordingly.
Aftercare is crucial: Follow your artist’s instructions to ensure proper healing and minimise the risk of complications. Take your time and don’t fall for offers or discounts. Remember, a tattoo is a permanent mark; make sure you’re ready and comfortable with the quality.