Kate Winslet

When Kate Winslet rang me earlier today, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. A bit of beauty banter? Of course. But the conversation that ensued unveiled a genuine heart and sense of purpose below the striking exterior of this Lancome spokesmodel.

Though still in her early 30s, Kate’s sage-like qualities resounded over the phone. With all the awards she’s been winning and is nominated for, you’d think she’d be a little less grounded, not so.

Read below for a reality check from one of the most influential— and naturally gorgeous— heroines of our time.

Most people don’t have a public record of their professional and personal development, though yours has been well-documented since the early ’90s. Do you think this has had an impact on your sense of self? Who or what has helped you strengthen and retain your sanity?

No, I think that my sense of self has come as a result of my own life experiences. In my early 20s, I thought I knew myself so well and thought I was coping with life so well and actually, when I look back, [I see that] I didn’t know what the hell I was I doing back then— I hadn’t a clue who I was.

But now, I do feel much more centered in terms of who I am and feel the most comfortable in my own skin than I’ve ever felt before. And I feel less inclined to beat myself up now, as we tend to do in our early 20s. We scrutinize ourselves and are often very physically insecure in our early 20s, and it takes awhile to grow out of that. I think that becoming a mother, and just letting myself be who I am, has definitely helped me achieve a sense of balance within myself.

Has Hollywood had an impact on how you perceive yourself physically?

No. If anything Hollywood has made me more defiant— made me want to be more comfortable in my own skin. It’s made me less inclined to want to change myself. I think there are a lot of myths and a lot of pressure on women these days to look good, and I think a lot of that does come from Hollywood and it does come from the media.

I do feel that I’m very lucky to be in the position where I am working as an actress today and get to play very, very interesting roles. And to be recognized for those things is, you know, very rare. It’s a real blessing and I don’t take any of it lightly. But because I am in that position, I do feel that it’s important to stand up there and say, “Guess what everybody, this isn’t real— we don’t all really look like this. We’ve been in hair and makeup for two hours”, or “Magazine covers do get retouched.” That’s the way it’s been for a very long time, and no one really talks about that. I really don’t think it should be a secret.

So then it’s safe to assume that you’re comfortable with being a “body image hero”?

Yes, yes. Very much so.

Do you think that different directors see you differently? Which director’s vision have you found to be the most complex? Exciting? Perhaps the closest to how you perceive yourself?

Well, when Michel Gondry asked me to play “Clementine” in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, I was really, really flattered because he was the first director who helped me break the mold of an English Rose who’s doing all the period films. He saw something in me— and I don’t know what it was— but he saw a sort of rebellious, feisty, ballsy person inside, and in many ways that is who I am. So I felt very understood working with Michel Gondry, and I also felt very comfortable and encouraged and yet challenged at the same time. It was a big, big step for me, a kind of turning point in my career, to play somebody as contemporary and unconventional as “Clementine.”

Do you watch yourself in your films? Is it hard to see yourself on screen?

I don’t watch myself, no. I always see [my films] once when they come out, but I don’t sit and avidly watch them. I do find it a bit strange.

As an actor’s actor, you have an extraordinary talent for interpreting and embodying your characters. How important is hair, make-up and wardrobe for you when creating a character? Do you have a favorite transformation?

My favorite transformation is “Hannah” [from The Reader] because I age 38 years in that film, and hair and makeup play a huge part. I mean, if it wasn’t for the hair and makeup team, they would have had to cast an older actress to play that role, so I was very, very lucky that the technicians were as capable as they were— that they could really create this look and make it very believable. That was a fascinating process for me; I’d never done anything like that before and was extremely happy to be able to experience that [transformation]. And it also meant that I could play that part— literally— so it really made a huge difference for me.

When the cameras are off, what’s your daily beauty regimen?

I don’t have any major secrets. I just really try and keep a healthy attitude and think everything in moderation. I try to keep my skin as clean as I can— use a good moisturizer, a good eye cream [like Lancome High Résolution Eye Refill-3X], and try and get rest. You know, not do anything to excess. And I can’t get away with the things I used to be able to get away with in my early 20s.

In my early 20s, I could eat chocolate and it maybe made a difference in the size of my hips, but it certainly didn’t make a difference in my skin. But nowadays, I have to be careful with that because I’ll just breakout. You shift and change, your hormones change, and that effects everything— your body, your skin.

So just maintaining a healthy attitude really, and having an understanding of what your body is and what your skin does, and not doing the things that might make you react.

Do you workout regularly? And if so, what exercises or routines have you found to be the most successful?

Well I haven’t actually done any exercise since October of last year, I just literally haven’t had the time. I haven’t done a stitch— not a sit-up, not anything. If and when I can— I’m not an avid gym girl and don’t have a personal trainer— I find doing a little Pilates at home with a DVD really helps. It’s also really good when traveling, as you can take the DVDs with you and use them in the hotel room; just lie down on a towel and stretch a little bit. That just seems to help me somehow keep it together, but I don’t do it obsessively and I’m very inconsistent about it.

Now on to a bit of fashion. Who would you say are your style icons?

I don’t particularly have any style icons. I just really admire women who dress appropriately, who don’t try and cover themselves up, and women who look the age that they are.

I really admire Susan Sarandon, Meryl Streep, Vanessa Redgrave, Judi Dench— you know, these wonderful, powerful women who are brilliant at what they do, and who are aging naturally and gracefully, and look absolutely incredible. Those are the types of women that I really admire. I would hope to be like that, giving out that type of message, when I’m older.

On a sillier note, if you were a fashion accessory what would you be?

I would be a locket on a chain, because you can put the pictures of the ones you love in the locket.

Any parting words for our Beauty Maverick readers?

Just try not to be too hard on yourself. I think that we can all get very bogged-down and stressed-out by how we’re supposed to look or by comparing ourselves to other people. I think that comparing ourselves to other people is just exhausting, and also pointless.

Try to play to your strengths and just be comfortable in your own skin, and try and stop wishing that you were somebody else. We are who we are, and we have to try to make the best of what we have.

Mahnoor Baloch

My Fair Lady Mahnoor Baloch is like this beautiful fragile desert flower who could play a mysterious Arab princess, delicate enough to bruise by the stem of a flower. The every next instant, she is a fire-breathing feminist who hates the idea of a woman being perceived as a brainless twit, fit for nothing more than sniveling on screen. Mahnoor has a visage that you can imagine starring out of reflective water when Oriental goddesses look into them. Chiseled cheekbones that can cut ice, large doe-eyes and a natural glow add to a face that could launch thousand ships. In an identical Joan-of-Arcish manner, she is pretty firm about her dos and don’ts. Check out the many facets of Mahnoor Baloch.

“Beauty with Intelligence is a rare combination…” this is what Bernard Shaw analyzed about women but Mahnoor Balouch certainly proves it wrong. A woman who has just not made the audience woo for her light straight air, smooth skin and big fluttering eyes but made them turn with her prudent directorial ventures.

At Karachi Gymkhana, Mahnoor attired in black denim jeans and hugging t-shirt of the same color, she reminded of a princess locked up in a tower waiting for her Prince charming to come and rescue her although she found the guy of her dreams way back around two decades ago at sixteen by an handsome young man of the corporate world.

Still, married happily with a beautiful daughter Mahnoor glows as she talks about her family. She doesn’t although feel comfortable enough to reveal much about her family life as she says, “If whatever I do is brought out in public, that is certainly fine with me but digging out my personal life is just not the right way to do it.” Mahnoor believes that her personal life has just been dug too much from the time that she got married in her teens to her daughter’s upbringing she feels that everyone knows far much than they should know. It is one of the basic reasons that she does not give out much of the interviews nowadays, “They all are just the same!â€

Very few people know that Mahnoor actually started off her career with modeling and yes she is back to the roots with a Bang. But before we discuss this, where was she, away from glitz and glam?

“I went to the film School of Toronto.” So is she moving towards film world or it’s just or it’s just the fitness of her acting and directing skills. Certainly, she aggress that there is a huge film market worldwide but she adamantly believes there is no film industry of Pakistan. “Film industry in Pakistan was gone in its seventies only! And I do not want badmouth or degrade our filmy setup but I firmly believe they don’t want to move forward at all!” Mahnoor is bitter about the silver screen because she says if it really progressed or “moved on” precisely what she calls it as she would have been the first person there.

Mahnoor has been accused of being just a pretty face in all her performances than being a substantial actress. She retorts back rather irritated, “I don’t understand what they want out of me? When I did Marvi wasn’t Marvi anyways. I was her friend from a posh locality and performed according to that.” She further elucidates that Chandni Raatein was a very challenging and different performance wise since she was the second wife of a man who marries again for a child. With a beguiling smile she states that the directors never consider her for low-society girl roles as they come up with a lame excuse that she does not have the looks for it. Hence, all the meaty roles are bagged by Sania Saeed, Nadia Jamil and other actresses. Besides she thinks that it is the basic flaw in our serials nowadays. “The only typical clad playing all the typical roles.” Is what she is definitely bitter about.

Apart from being a splendid actress Mahnoor has also directed serials under her own production banner. “Sometimes you feel conceited and you want to express yourself. This is when I started up my own production house.” Just four years back she started up with her own production company entered the field through a production called “Lamhay” which was a huge success in the masses. Though the “smarter audience” as she terms them laughingly could not accept her in Shehzad Roy’s mother’s role. Since then she has never looked back. She came up with “Path Jhar ki Chaaon” in 2000, a sensitive tale woven around a mother daughter relationship which once again earned her a tremendous response from her audience.

She has always been blamed for being a moody actress who works under her own set of principles. And she firmly believes she has and she would definitely keep it up in future too as she states that it is the only way one comes with good wholesome projects. On the other hand she stubbornly disagrees with the fact of being called moody. She claims she has never been moody. However, she doesn’t want to do all the ‘stuff’ that comes her way as she wants to be remembered for a long time.

Unlike other models of the time who left modeling with a bad flavor in their mouth, she has returned to the ramp. ‘When I came back to Pakistan after a year and a half it was certainly a changed scenario. Firstly, there are so many private channels which is good and even the ramp modeling has changed. ‘So, what were the things that made her run away from the catwalk altogether and return. ‘Basically when I did this catwalk show it was purely nothing but showing of flesh. I mean what you expect from a show which had nothing but mere two cloths covering your body. It wasn’t just me but every single model felt uncomfortable with how the show was shaping up. After my arrival here, my ramp show at expo was marvelous. It had good clothes. All the trendy wear with decency and elegance. ‘She says that she is definitely back and plans to flourish in it too.

After her first directorial venture, she was considered a carp actress and director in whole. Mahnoor smiles sarcastically at this question and answer patiently, ‘I know many people who liked it in fact I would say the masses loved it but there must be people who disliked it. It depends on your likes and dislikes and you cannot mould people according to your will.’ What does she have to say over the fact that her last production ‘Pathjhar, ki chaoon’ had the same story as another serial called ‘Anie.’ ‘You know what it wasn’t the case. It was so different. I saw ‘Annie’ and I suppose the first episode only boasts the same story line apart from that there was not a single similarity. Annie’s kids were very young whereas in ‘Pathjhar ki chaaon’ I myself played the eldest daughter who takes revenge from her mother by seducing her step daddy. To the blame that ‘Pathjhar ki chaaon’ had a similar storyline as that of an Indian movie she expresses, ‘Concepts are worked upon again and again! I took the basic concept from a novel maybe the writer of that film too had his concept from the same novel. Anyways I never got to see any such film.

Mahnoor is actually putting her heart and soul yet for another of her production which is in pipeline and is called ‘shiddat.’ ‘I just sold the copyrights to new private channel Hum TV.’ She seems very enthusiastic about her latest venture as it is her first project after her film course and she has strived to put in all that she had learnt there. Nevertheless she is still not ready to reveal the story even in the tit bits because she says that it destroys the whole flavor of the serial in totality. It was huge rumor, not so long ago that a well reputed private TV channel refused to take up her serial for their prime time. ‘Seriously I don’t get what it takes to be on these private channels. They have put up such people in charge who don’t even know their job. Now this specific person tells me that my project is a copy of some Indian soap or movie which in fact was very wrong.’ She pointed out that earlier the same in charge had refused to take up another serial which turned out to be a success among the masses. She counts it as a big fault of the TV channel and considers the in charge a fall for the station.

Mention movies and Mahnoor gets a little nostalgic. She says she feels a strong urge to change the film industry bring in raw talent to shape them up for the betterment for not only the filmi scene but also for the progress of the country. ‘I’ve loved working with the raw young talent. They are always very hardworking and put in all the dint and effort they can to make their projects look perfect.’ Would Mahnoor prefer to work with newcomers is DIVA’s next query. ‘Definitely,’ she replies assuring, ‘There is no way I won’t. I am even looking forward in promoting newcomers at the ramp because they seem so diligent.’

With all that she is today who does she give all the credit to? ‘I feel there is no such institution in our country to help us learn the basics of acting and groom our performances. If you are smart enough you will have to learn from your surroundings only. Hard work pays of in the end surely.’

For the past few months as India-Pakistan progresses politically our actors have turned on the acting diplomacy. Pakistani actors are trying their luck in Bollywood whereas Indian actors are moving towards our small screen. This gives rise to, would Mahnoor one of those in the bandwagon and Mahnoor denies it with a spontaneous No! She feels that there is so much to utilize in our country that we don’t even have time to think about others. ‘I got offers from Bollywood when Zeba did Henna but I refused because I would not feel comfortable with a lot of things that they portray in their movie’ she says.

As the evening progressed one felt that this vibrant women as a lot of substance to offer inspite of all that she has done. What channels does she found worth watching nowadays? ‘It is a humongous change. I t was only PTV at one time. Now they have a lot of new channels. ARY is really good. HUM is doing superb. I think very single channel is adding colors to the small screen.

Mahnoor says that if we need to progress we should have an urge to do so. She thinks that our new generation lacks the competitive attitude and it is struck with glamour and has lost the touch to good performance. She is among the few people who are working hard to change the showbiz structure.

Taking leave of a lady of talents and going back, I couldn’t suppress a smile as I saw HUM TV run a trailor of the serial shiddat crossing the lobby. She certainly has all the talents to lead on.

Vidya Balan

She was and has been the quintessential young woman next door whom an intelligent man would love to take to his mother. Playing a quintessential 'bhartiya naari', whether belonging to the classical mould (Parineeta, Bhool Bhulaiyaa, Eklavya - The Royal Guard) or the modern times (Paa, Lage Raho Munnabhai, Salaam E Ishq) with a brain of her own, Vidya Balan boasts of consistency as her hallmark.

In fact a closer study of her filmography pretty much confirms that after Katrina Kaif, she easily has the best success rate amongst leading ladies today with at least one hit a year ever since her debut effort Parineeta (2005). No wonder, when Vidya moves from her 'maa' performance in Paa to a 'woman with desires of her own' (in her own words) in Ishqiya, she makes viewers look forward to what's new that she has to offer in the New Year. More so because in the film she makes men as diverse as Naseeruddin Shah and Arshad Warsi dance to her tune.

"This is the best time to be working in movies", declares Vidya who now has two back to back successes in her kitty with Ishqiya following Paa, "Earlier when any filmmaker even thought of making a non-formulaic film, it used to be slotted as an art film there and then. Soon after it would be considered as economical unviable and unfortunately there wasn't much progress that any of such brilliant ideas made. I guess there was an attempt in the late 70s and the early 80s but then ever since NFDC has stopped making films, all doors seemed to be shut. However, in the current decade we are back to making different kind of films. Yes, it's a slow but a steady journey for sure. At least now with movies like Ishqiya, we have started pushing the envelope a little more."

At the beginning of 2009, it was Anurag Kashyap directed Dev D that followed a non-conformist approach towards cinema. Circa 2010 and the year has begun well with Ishqiya. It appears like finally there is some trend in the making here with mainstream actors not feeling shy about lending their support to films that break commercial mould. After Abhay Deol, it is nice to see Vidya Balan too joining the fray.

"I think what is actually happening is that even audiences want to see different things today. This is why when a few experiments worked earlier, people just lapped it up. Movies like Bheja Fry pretty much paved the way for quality films in controlled budget to start making an appearance because once these films worked, more and more people from the industry were further encouraged to present different ideas. It was obvious that even unconventional and non-formulaic films can work if packed, marketed, promoted and presented well. Slowly there are steps being taken due to which audiences too are accepting varied subjects with open arms. Thankfully, there are better budgets being offered as well in spite of increase in experimental cinema", Vidya goes on to share her 'gyaan' on the advent of new age cinema.

She can't be blamed though if she is sounding all excited about the advent of a different kind of cinema. After all, she is one of the rare female actors who has agreed to play the role of a mother in two films (Paa, Heyy Babyy), someone who has psychological disorder (Bhool Bhulaiyaa), a woman suffering from an ailment (Guru, Salaam E Ishq) and now a widow who doesn't mind getting into an intense romance with love (Naseeruddin Shah) and lust (Arshad Warsi) as the driving force. With the 'Jessica Lal' based film already in her kitty and things looking promising with Gulzar's next seemingly quite close, Vidya sure is getting all her calculations right.

kareena kapoor

Kareena Kapoor's next release is Yashraj Films' Tashan this week. "We've all worked really hard on the film. Let's hope it works. After Jab We Met, another hit wouldn't hurt."

Kareena is looking forward to another film with Saif after Omkara and Tashan. "We're doing Renzil D'Silva's film together. But it's very important to keep the personal and professional lives apart," she says with a new-found wisdom. "Both Saif and I need to concentrate on our individual careers. No marriage for me for the next five years." She also cuts down any speculation regarding her sister Karisma's comeback. "How will she work? All her attention is taken up in looking after her daughter Samaira. My niece is the apple of everyone's eyes at home…Come to think of it, the letter 'S' has always been important in my life," she laughs, referring not just to her niece Samaira but also to Shahid and Saif.

Saif was recently in Bangkok shooting an ad with Priyanka Chopra. Kareena who's known to be possessive about her loved ones was blissfully at peace with herself. "I've never been more comfortable in my space. And when I read stories about me, I can't recognize myself," Kareena sighs.

It hard for us to recognize the new ultra-svelte Kareena. Post-Jab We Met she has lost so much weight there is a ceaseless spurt of speculative stories about her weight-loss. "People are saying I want to be like Victoria Beckham. I think the talk started when Saif got himself tattooed with my name. David had done the same for Victoria. So…but honestly, I'm proud of my sculpted body. It's a look that I needed for my new film Tashan. But I haven't starved myself to look the way I'm looking these days. Why should I want to be like anyone else? I've done nothing drastic to myself. I do yoga religiously. And I'm eating like any healthy girl, thank you."

She faints with amusement at anorexic stories about her. "It was written that I fainted on the sets because I've become weak. Utter rubbish! Kuch bhi likh dete hain. Have these people seen me in person? I look no different from the way I looked earlier. I guess I'm just happy in life, and that shows. I haven't lost weight. I've just toned my physique and that too for a role. "

If Kareena is glowing, it isn't just love. "I've right now entered the best phase of my career. Jab We Met has for sure been a turning point."

Her desire to pair with Aamir is fulfilled. "It was a dream to work with Aamir. We recently came close to working together in two films (Vishal Bhardwaj's Mr Mehta And Mrs Singh and Mani Rathnam's Lajjo).It's finally happening. As for Rensil's film, it's a stunning script. I'm doing something in it, I've never done before."

Katrina Kaif got up-set

The recent Star Screen Awards scrutinize the attitudes of the actresses; particularly, the Bollywood’s “kat”, Katrina Kaif who was finally awarded at the end of the event.

At first, when the announcement was made that the best actress awards were going to Vidya Balan and Kareena Kapoor, this made her disturb, obviously. She thought that she failed to win the Best Actress award in either the popular or the critics’ category; as she was expecting herself to get that award. No doubt, Katrina brings the maximum number of hits in 2009, to Indian Film Industry. She was also planned to perform for the televised version of the show.

But at the end, in a result of a quick decision a special award category was produced and then “The Best Entertainer of the Year” award was presented to Katrina.

Rani, working for Production House

One of the Bollywood’s attractive actresses, Rani Mukharji, has started working for the home productions; after the disappointment from her film’s feedback.

The films of Rani Mukharji are not doing good business or she is not performing extremely well, form the last few years. Presently, she is utilizing her acting skills on T.V. screen, besides working on a home production film along with her brother, ‘Life isy galy jily’. Rani Mukharji has nice plans about this film, like to surprise her fans and she is expecting good response as well.

While commenting on her current position in the film industry, Rani has revealed that she is not getting the role of her choice and this is the reason of her losing status. Even then, according to her, she always tries to do her best but the problem is, all the blame of the film failure goes to actors.

No doubt, Rani Mukharji is a big name of Bollywood, and she does not believe on shortcuts; she has planned to prove herself through her home production.

Priyanka Chopra is to judge the Miss World

The former Miss World is going to be the judge for Miss World contest this year. The actress is really happy for she will be revisiting her past after 9 years of wining the title.

After a breach of nine years, former Miss World Priyanka Chopra is ready to take part in the Miss World contest again, but as a judge. Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra will be seen as a judge for the finalists during the last round of '2009 Miss World contest', which is being held on December 12 in Johannesburg.

On this, an elated Priyanka Chopra said, "When Julia Morley, who is in charge of the beauty pageant, invited me to be a judge, I was ecstatic. There I was a teenager all those years ago, nervous as a help on the same platform. Now I'm going in a totally different capacity." Priyanka Chopra also said that the invitation is very special to her.

Priyanka Chopra added that she is happy to become a part of the much popular contest regardless of her hectic shooting schedules around. Priyanka Chopra also said that the existing year is very special as well as lucky to her.

"This was a good year and hopefully 2010 will be as good if not better."
Priyanka Chopra will start 2010 with 'Pyaar Impossible' which is due to release in January. Miss World 2009 is the 59th pageantry event. This year twenty finalists will be chosen rather than fifteen for the semi finals.