Beauty & bullion

Model-turned-actress Jennifer Kotwal will now host a new season of ‘Oh My Gold!’ on TLC, presenting India’s dear world of gold jewellery and its all-time allure, writes Asha Chowdary.

For those who cannot resist the dazzle of fine gold, the lustre of priceless gems and the sheer beauty of intricately crafted jewellery, the show that celebrates the yellow metal in all its grandeur is here. TLC’s new season of the popular jewellery show, Oh My Gold !(OMG), premieres with Jennifer Kotwal as its host. 

It will trace the journey of the model-turned-actress as she sets off on a three-city adventure, exploring the changing world of jewellery, and on the way discover and share with her viewers the inimitable delights that this precious metal can bring to their lives. 

Of a nation’s obsession

In an exclusive interview, Jennifer Kotwal says with passion that she can understand why gold is a national obsession. “Indians have this great love for gold, and I think it is because they know the value behind it,” she says, adding, “Indians are very smart about investments. Also, gold will never go out of style and will never grow old for us.”

The show will take the audience through a gamut of experiences in the jewellery world. Jennifer will embark on a gold-shopping spree, and her outing promises to be a sensory delight for the audience as well. So, when she touches the rich textures of region-specific ornaments, breathes the air of the halls where these masterpieces are crafted, and feels the cool of the precious metal against her skin, the viewer also gets a vicarious experience of having the jewellery. Each city has its unique jewellery identity, and Jennifer gets to speak to celebrated designers and to check out the creative genius of their work. 

“The hero of the show is gold,” laughs Jennifer. “When my friends ask me who my co-star on this show is, I say gold. My job is to highlight the hero. As for the show itself, a viewer follows me as I travel, and I show you jewellery and talk to many people in each city.” Among the three cities that she has visited, Jennifer says that each city has had a special place in her memory. She says, “I had never been to Kolkata before. I found it very cultural. Delhi was very flashy, and Bangalore — my heart belongs to Bangalore.”Through her travels, Jennifer also noticed many other things. “I saw that people do buy a lot of gold, and many brides even today like to be covered from head to toe in gold. I tried out a few pieces and felt like a million dollars. Of course, there are many modern brides who go for more intricate styles, but even this jewellery is very expensive and spectacular.”

Her own collection of jewellery is very special to her, and Jennifer has a few pieces that hold many memories. “One piece of my own jewellery that holds the best memory was a gift from a brand I endorsed,” she says, adding, “I worked with them for a few years. Later they gave me a necklace to tell me how much they liked my work. For me, that necklace was a symbol of my hard work. It held great value. Later I gifted it to my mother. It is still my favourite piece of jewellery.”

Tricks of the trade

When you set out to buy gold, it is important to be armed with information and to know what you are looking for. Says Jennifer, “There are so many styles and options to choose from that it is often very difficult to make a decision. The bottom line is that it should look good on you. One simple rule to remember is to always wear a flashy necklace with something simple and subtle on ears. If you want to wear an ornate earring, then wear a simple necklace. Also, don’t go for what is trendy. Go for the jewellery that makes you feel good. Make sure it adorns you. Take a whole day to go gold shopping.” 

About the shooting experience of Oh My Gold!, Jennifer says she loved every minute of it. “It was sometimes from 7 am to 3 am, but I loved it. When you love something, it does not feel like work. Doing a TV show is very different from doing movies. In a movie shooting you have to perform different things, like cry or laugh or dance. This experience is very different.” In the near future, Jennifer says she will act in a Tamil or Kannada movie. Her free time, however, goes into her pursuit of technology. “When I am not working, I put my heart into my phone. I am a tech person. I also like to watch TV and am always up for some coffee and conversation. I enjoy going to spas, and I love to watch all the Bollywood and Hollywood movies in town.”

Jennifer has worked extensively in the Kannada Film industry and as a model. She started her acting career with Hindi television serials like Just Mohabbat and then took up roles in Hindi films — Subhash Ghai’s Yaadein, along with Kareena Kapoor and Hrithik Roshan — before landing a blockbuster Kannada movie Jogi opposite ‘hattrick hero’ Shivaraj Kumar, which went on to set numerous box-office records. 

Her tryst with TV started off in Class 12, but OMG!was a different ballgame altogether. “When you shoot for a serial, things seldom change. But in a show like this, new things happen. From modelling to acting, each career has its exciting moments. I knew I would enjoy this show, and I had a blast.”

Oh My Gold! will be aired every day at 9 pm, on TLC.