The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : The Bollywood fetish

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Wednesday, Aug 27, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

The Bollywood fetish

Shilpa Sebastian R.

Brides so lavishly made up they cannot even turn their head. Why?

Bangalore: Manju Varma started trials for the perfect bride look at various parlours months before her wedding date. Finally, she zeroed in on the Jodhaa Akbar look, with matching costume jewellery. Just her look cost her Rs. 20,000. At the wedding, she felt weighed down by all the heavy brocade ghagra-choli and could not even turn her head thanks to all the pins and jewellery. But comfort was a small sacrifice for the “great look.”

At least, that was what she thought. But instead of her naturally beautiful face, the effect was more like plaster of Paris. Her own beautiful eyes were hidden behind heavy long false lashes. “It’s a lifetime memory, so it’s ok,” said the bride, who forced herself to grin and bear it through all that discomfort.

Why do girls want to look like something they are not on one of the most important days of their life? Said Gauri Kapur, who runs Gauri Kapur Academy: “It’s a once-in-a lifetime thing. I am an example of bad makeup on my wedding day. I looked so horrid and painted that I shudder to think how my children or grandchildren will react.”

The beautician who taught Deepika Padukone the art of makeup teaches brides to “enhance their looks and features.” “This way they still look like themselves and natural and not like decked up dolls.” The pressure of looking good on D-Day is so much these days that she has brides working with her one year in advance!

But what do professionals do when they get demands to make the bride look like Aishwarya Rai in Jodhaa Akbar or Devdas? “I just don’t entertain such clients. Instead I teach them the art of makeup and tell them how they can look great in their own personal way,” Gauri pointed out.

Prarthana, who runs Peaches Salon and Spa, said it is important for the bride to look striking. “She should look brighter than the visitors who are dressed up. But she should keep style and comfort in her mind. People should complement the personality of the bride not her makeup.” Jyothi D.S., who has a parlour in Jayanagar, observed it is grooms rather than brides who have a Bollywood fetish. “They bring pictures and tell us to make their brides look like them.

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