When Bollywood actors went de-glam and geeky (2010 in Retrospect)

NEW DELHI - Glamorous looks and designer outfits have been synonymous with Bollywood, but 2010 saw a lot of mainstream stars going de-glam. From Bipasha Basu and Aishwarya Rai to John Abraham and Akshay Kumar, few shied away from experimenting with their on-screen appearance.

“Actors are not shying away from experimenting and they are willing to shed those extra kilos of jewellery, designer outfits and make-up to get into character,” trade analyst Taran Adarsh told IANS.

“Moreover, since the storylines are getting real, audiences also look for real characters they can connect with. They have started accepting actors in plain looks,” he added.

The otherwise bold and sensual Bipasha opted for a no make-up look in two of her films, “Aakrosh” and “Lamhaa”. While “Lamhaa” saw her playing a simple Kashmiri girl, in “Aakrosh” she played the role of a tortured wife.

Akshay Kumar played a struggling road contractor in “Khatta Meetha”. With his shirt buttoned up to the collar, oily hair, and a small pouch and umbrella in hand, Akshay immersed himself in the character of the common man.

John Abraham also turned geek for Abbas Tyrewala’s “Jhoota Hi Sahi”. But the actor admitted he was unsure whether he would be able to carry it off.

“When Abbas spoke to me about the character, I was not worried about the way I would look because I think the look completely befitted the character…I was worried about whether I would be able to carry off the look,” John said.

The glamorous Katrina Kaif broke the mould by going completely de-glam for her role as a politician in Prakash Jha’s “Rajneeti”. Her simply tied hair and subdued saris proved to be as popular with the audiences as her fashionable looks.

Vidya Balan oozed sensuality in her bold village girl avatar in Vishal Bharadwaj’s “Ishqiya”. Aishwarya Rai too sported a no-make up look for Mani Ratnam’s “Raavan”. Minissha Lamba went plain for her role in Shyam Benegal’s National Award-winning film “Well Done Abba”.

Deepika Padukone’s plain appearance in Ashutosh Gowariker’s “Khelein Hum Jee Jaan Sey” has already become a rage. Neha Dhupia also sported a no-make-up look in “Phas Gaye Re Obama”, where she played the role of a woman gangster.

“Glamour no longer remains the key thing. Young actors have also started realising that success comes from real and entertaining films,” Habib Faisal, director of the lighthearted film “Do Dooni Chaar”, told IANS.

“Do Dooni Chaar” saw the real life couple Rishi Kapoor and Neetu Kapoor coming together on screen after 30 years.

“Filmmakers are trying to be true to the demographics and the material of the story. So if it requires the actors to go de-glam, they are game for it. The directors want to tell the story honestly and not create false glamour,” he added.

The evergreen yet glamorous couple dressed down for their role of a typical middle class husband and wife in the film. Faisal said the crew went shopping in Lajpat Nagar and also went to roadside vendors to pick their clothes.

Yesteryear diva Dimple Kapadia made a comeback with Kabir Sadanand’s “Tum Milo Toh Sahi”, where she played a simple Parsi lady wearing frocks, skirts and shirts with glasses.

“Dimple Kapadia has always been known for her flowing hair and glamorous looks. In my film, I wanted to highlight her as a human being and not someone glamorous. It was a risk in its own way considering her image, but we are happy that our efforts paid off,” said Sadanand.

“When I told her that this is going to be her look, there were no apprehensions and she was really happy. We picked up a lot of her clothes from street shops,” he added.

(Priyanka Sharma can be contacted at priyanka.s@ians.in )