Book Review: Inspiring Beauty 
By IndiaFM News Bureau, May 30, 2007 - 11:07 IST
When Lux and Times of India come together to produce a book what should one expect? Lux Inspiring Beauty boasts of columns and pictures of the most beautiful women seen in Hindi Cinema. Edited and compiled by Omar Qureshi, this book includes various topics and pictures right from veteran actors, filmmakers and actresses themselves talking about their idea of beauty to some timeless beauties being spoken of.
The book begins with film-makers talking about what they think of beauty and about some of the leading ladies they have worked with. The list is quite impressive which includes Dilip Kumar, Subhash Ghai, Rakesh Roshan, Dev Anand, Mahesh Bhatt, Karan Johar and Rishi Kapoor (speaking about Raj Kapoor's vision of beauty). Words being more engrossing than the pictures here, this one is something a cinema lover would love to read.
After that the actresses themselves speak about their idea of beauty and some of their ideals. Interestingly, along with their features, a small comment is given on them by a person connected to them in the film industry. For instance Amitabh Bachchan speaks on Aishwrya Rai, “Aishwarya's inner beauty is far greater than her much renowned external beauty.” The chapter is aptly titled Mirror Mirror on the wall.
Then comes along Timeless beauty. The chapter opens with a poem penned by Gulzar- his eulogy to the perfect face. The chapter speaks of the ever beautiful actresses seen on Hindi celluloid. Moving by the decade, it includes unforgettable names like Leela Chitnis, Nargis, Madhubala, Vyajantimala, Sharmila Tagore and many more.
Next in line is Perfect 10 which speaks of the actresses assets. Most beautiful eyes, perfect nose and most lustrous locks are just some of the categories. Though some names are repetitive, the picture used here are a visual treat to the eyes.
Move forward (or backwards) - all the lovely ladies of Bollywood have promoted the brand of Lux. Be it Meena Kumari, Asha Parekh, Waheeda Rehman, Sharmila Tagore, Babita or Jayalalitha - the list is endless. Something really to look forward to!
The next section is different and quite interesting. Titled Beauty-makers, the chapter consists of articles written by photographers like Subi Samuel and Dabboo Ratnani, Make up artists like Jaywant Thackrey, Mickey Contractor etc. and fashion designers like Neeta Lulla and Manish Malhotra.
What is even more interesting is the next part where the book tells us on some of the beauties that Lux had missed on. The list includes Nutan, Jaya Bachchan, Dimple Kapadia, Sonali Bendre, Amrita Rao etc.
Coming closer to the end we see a topless Shah Rukh Khan in a bath-tub. Ring a bell? Yes, that's the same image you got when you saw the Lux ad. He being the first Indian male to endorse the brand has written a column for the book. Talking about the lovely ladies (Hema Malini, Sridevi, Kareena Kapoor and Juhi Chawla) in the ad he was associated with, he praises their beauty.
And the last part and probably the most nostalgic of them all is when they showcase old Lux print advertisements featuring faces like right from Nanda to Sumitra Mukherji to Rekha to Zarina Wahab to the more recent Tabu.
Finally a book on some of the most beautiful women in India! However priced at Rs. 1000 per copy, this one will be something which people will think twice before purchasing. But with spectacular pictures and equally competent columns, this one is a noteworthy book. Whoever said Beauty is only skin deep surely hasn't read this book.
|
