Shammi kapoor could very easily vouch for Sharmila Tagore’s beauty when he sang Yeh chand sa roshan chehra in the movie Kashmir Ki Kali. A Romeo of today, however, cannot take that risk; the woman of his dreams is now a factory-manufactured product. I remember seeing an English movie where the hero is passionately wooing the heroine. As he caresses her and runs his hands through her hair, her ‘hair add ons’ come off. Gathering courage he tenderly traces his fingers from her forehead to her eyes, when her false eyelashes fall into his hands. But the hero still doesn’t lose hope and he runs his hands longingly over her curves when her ‘falsies’ get dislocated. We all laughed our heads off but the hero had ice-cold water thrown over his desires!
Men don’t seem to understand a woman’s desire to be perfect. Even if she’s perfect, chances are she’s still not happy. Take the case of Catherine Cando, a beautiful 19-year-old medical student and part-time model from Duran, Ecuador. She died while undergoing liposuction — a prize she got for winning a local beauty competition. It’s a growing fad, where the young, bold and beautiful are throwing their youthful natural splendour to be plastic perfect!
Looking good is the mantra. For the nubile teenager, it’s her survival at stake as they are being introduced to the world and consequently cannot take a chance. For those who are able to afford it, there are all sorts of cosmetic changes on offer. If you can’t, then just buy a smartphone that edits your pictures well.
If you think this is just a fad for the young rich girls, you couldn’t be more wrong. Ladies in their 40s and 50s are engaging in procedures like botox, liposuction and breast enlargement.
And for those of us who know it’s a losing battle, we just dig up all those articles on how to feel comfortable in your skin. And when Malaika Arora Khan shows up on TV, we sigh, “She doesn’t look natural, yaar.”
The media sells what looks good. Not everyone can be like Bharati Singh, the popular comedian and actor, who got lucky making a buck by being overweight. No channel is interested if you’re tipping the scales even if you’re exceptionally talented. So, being picture perfect is a national game.
But as an old saying goes, Chand mein bhi daag hai (Even the moon has scars). So, let’s cherish our bodies — the under eye circles to the plump arms. Let’s focus on being happy, fit and healthy. Sport a twinkle in the eye and a million-watt smile on the face. We ought to be thankful for what we have. So, let’s be grateful, girls!
Published 30 October 2015, 14:48 IST