SRK had a face job?

TOI finds out if it's a key ingredient to survival in the industry.


SO what if Shilpa Shetty had a nose job, Sushmita Sen had silicone implants and Rakhi Sawant went a step further and took hers out? Women in Bollywood going under the knife is old news. But the now the guys seem to be following suit with face jobs. Think Shah Rukh Khan, Govinda, Shekhar Suman and Kumar Gaurav. But while it might do something for their vanity, does it help them as actors?

Cory Walia, make-up artist, says, "It's about making use of the technology available. Today, the perception is when we have facilities, then why not use them?"

At the same time, Cory says things should not be overdone. "We know that stars like Shah Rukh are exposed to high work pressure and need work more often, but he takes it slow and makes it subtle. But somebody like Shekhar Suman makes the changes quite obvious. He shouldn't have done so many things at the same time. Small doses of plastic surgery are okay," he explains.

On the other hand, dermatologist Anil Abraham says the culprit is people's mindsets. "When an actor does something to his face, he's doing it either because he's feeling jaded or wants to reintroduce himself," he says.

"In India, actors are considered role models and that's why this trend is rapidly picking up. But it's not healthy. Natural remedies like a good diet and workouts are always better options for long-term results. These quick-fix methods will kill the actual acting skills as the actor won't be able to give dramatic facial expressions."

Agrees actor Anuuj Sawhney, "I believe in healthy eating, diet and exercise. No matter how good, face jobs give you an artificial look. I don't mind minor corrections, but a whole face job is a no-no for me."
Similarly, television actor Ram Kapoor says he will never go under the knife. "I won't say it's wrong, but I'm against having it done to me. I believe in taking things as they come," he says. However, actor Ashmit Patel says he may consider a face job later. "In any case, I look younger than my age. But I won't lie — I might get botox job done a few years later," he says.

Looking good for the camera is a must, believes director Ravi Chopra. "As a director I'd obviously prefer a face that looks good in the frame," he says. And the audience wants to see a handsome-looking 40-year-old man, says actor Manasi Joshi Roy, "It's necessary for any actor to work on himself because it's the audience that criticises actors for looking fat or having wrinkles on their face," she adds.