Pursuing his interest in tattoo making, Mahesh took the plunge to quit his banking job and became a tattoo artist.

Mahesh Thapa is a tattoo artist who runs his own studio under the name MJ Tattoo Studio.

Mahesh was born in Nainital. He shifted to Meerut later on, where he completed his schooling at Dewan Public School. Mahesh had a keen interest in art from his childhood and started doing a part-time job in tattoo making. He worked at ICICI Bank for a period of seven years before becoming a full-time tattoo artist.

Speaking about his challenges, Mahesh says that when he initially started, people had no awareness of the tattoo industry. Even his family was quite reluctant to let him pursue tattooing. Nevertheless, Mahesh embarked on his tattoo journey by opting for some courses and learning from a few artists around him. He did face some income irregularities, but he didn’t let those situations bog him down.

Mahesh was even offered a job in a tattoo studio, but he wanted to establish his own identity by establishing a studio in his name. This is when he decided to deny that offer and remain persistent in his entrepreneurial journey.

Talking about the pandemic, Mahesh shares that for a few months he had nothing to do since everything was shut down. However, he tried to have some fun during COVID by making tattoos secretly for his own people. Mahesh did face a loss as he had to pay the  rent as well as due to the expiry of material. On the personal front, Mahesh was happy to spend enough time with his family, which he never used to get before.

When asked about his role models, Mahesh says he draws inspiration from his parents as well as Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. He is inspired by his quote, "You have to dream before your dreams can come true."

Speaking about his achievements, Mahesh shares that when he initially left his banking job, it took him some time to absorb the transition and gain fruitful results. But when his mother took pride in him being a tattoo artist, that was the biggest achievement for him.

Mahesh advises aspiring tattoo artists to focus on drawing and sketching, and look for a platform to learn tattoos professionally. He suggests they get proper sleep to wake up with more creative ideas the next day.

As a message for the youth, Mahesh says that no milestone can be achieved if one is not willing to put in the effort. He adds that no business garners losses, but it is the management that matters.

Mahesh spends his free time with his family and friends. He is also fond of travelling and visits Kedarnath every year. He also teaches his students about the tattoo industry and business management.