India's Top 10 Choices for Bride/Grooms

Want to live forever with Preity Zinta's dimples? Fancy being married to Hrithik Roshan's to-die-for eyes? The marriage market has good news — these are not being sold off the shelves yet, but may be just a click away. An online matrimonial service has recently introduced a "facial search" feature with which a prospective bride or groom can hook up with someone who resembles his/her chosen celebrity. The feature has notched up close to half a million subscribers in less than two months. "Most people in India want their partners to look like film stars or sportspersons," says Murugavel Janakiraman, CEO, Bharat Matrimony. t2 zeroes in on the top 10 choices on the site and tries to guess why…

The Brides

Katrina Kaif

The eyes : Innocently playful (did you catch the mischievous twinkle in her eyes when she posed as Barbie at the Lakme Fashion Week last month?) to sexy and smouldering (especially when she goes zara zara touch me, touch me), the myriad magic of Kat's eyes makes men's hearts go dhak dhak. We are quite sure that they go on twinkling underneath even as they put on that dumb look. Kat has perfected the art of looking dumb. It works best. Men love her.

The smile : It lights up multiplex screens in these dark downturn days and has launched a thousand products. No wonder it is plastered on her face 24x7. Except when a certain Mr Salman Khan is in the vicinity. "Ask any man which Bollywood actress has the best smile and chances are that it would be Madhuri Dixit followed by Katrina Kaif. Men love that pretty — if slightly dumb — smile," says adman Prahlad Kakkar.

The complexion : That peaches and cream complexion multiplies a bride's value anywhere in India. "Most men want wives who can audition for fairness cream ads," says public relations executive Lisa Rodgers.

The lips : Not full like those of a certain Ms Jolie, but eminently kissable. "With a face like that, who cares even if the lips aren't all that great?" asks college student Aniruddh Sinha.

Aishwarya Rai Bachchan

The eyes : If eyes speak volumes, Ash's large, glinting like diamonds, grey-green pair is positively eloquent. From radiating innocence ("she did have that innocent, touch-me-not demeanour during her Miss World days when she featured in the eye donation campaign," insists Shalini Chakraborty, 26, an Ash-watcher) to teary-eyed submissiveness (what else can you say about a woman who agrees to be married to a tree?), to hauteur (I am Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan now!) All this, of course, off-screen, for onscreen Ash's eyes go dull, not showing much except mascara and the green-blue eye shadow to go with her eyes. Such eyes reveal "a high degree of intelligence and imagination but passion may be less pronounced in this type as reasoning may subdue a part of the initiative," reads an astrology website.

But some men love her. Her latest habit of rolling her eyes while speaking could endear her to them more.

The arched eyebrows : We do think men get turned on by the hint of the haughty, the touch of the disdainful. Ash uses her eyebrows as much as she uses her eyes. Very soon, she'll perfect the art of rolling them too!

The lips : The perfectly pursed lips rarely open into a smile, though they can break into a giggle all too easily. They convey a calculating and businesslike woman. The partner will have a shrewd brain at home in the owner of those lips. "The man can leave the tough decisions to her," smiles software professional Chand Bhattacharya.

Bipasha Basu

The eyes : The big "Bengali beauty" eyes lined with kajal make men go weak in the knees. "If my woman had big and expressive eyes like that I would be the envy of all my male friends," chuckles Ritwick, 24, a Bips fan.

The complexion : Dusky and sexy. Speaks of a woman who is comfortable with the way she looks and is real. Goes with the eyes.

The forehead : According to www.characterology.com, a broad forehead like Bips's denotes practicality, caution, perseverance, acquisitiveness, secretiveness, executive and constructive ability, originality and sound reasoning capacity. Isn't all this what a man wants in a wife? Add to that the rest!

Preity Zinta

The dimples : Preity and her pretty dimples make news wherever they go. On screen and on the IPL field. Men flip for her dimpled smile — for they mirror a fun and warm personality. "Preity's dimples add to her bubbly and cute image. Moreover, very rarely would you find anyone with dimples, which makes Preity special. A Preity lookalike with dimples would be a far hotter proposition than a Preity lookalike without," says Prahlad Kakkar.

The eyes : Preity's eyes are an extension of her smile — lively and fun. The slight hint of mischief is what men find alluring. Her steady gaze reflects a solid and persevering nature and a person of stability and forthright disposition (ask 'victim' Ness Wadia!).

The hair : Carefully careless but classy. "She doesn't keep adjusting her hair constantly like Aishwarya and yet you won't find a hair out of place ever. I like that in a woman," says Ranjeet Jagtiani, 30, a Preity fan.

Priyanka Chopra

The nose : Rumour has it that Pri Chops had a nose correction done a couple of years ago, replacing a stubby nose with an upturned one. "The previous nose may have been a lot more cute, but the new one conveys a mature and confident woman and sits pretty on her beautiful face. I would like my woman to have a nose like that, not too sharp and not too stubby," says Aniruddh.

The eyes : Switching from mysterious (when she looks into Shahid Kapur's eyes) to mischievous (in the Nokia ad), Priyanka's eyes invite men to look into them, though they indicate that she does not let go of the control easily.

The lips : The best — full and totally kissable. Type in 'Priyanka Chopra lips' and Google will throw up thousands of images. Need we say more?

The complexion : Dusky, almost dark. A welcome change from the fair-complexioned Bollywood heroines. "At least as far as her complexion is concerned, Priyanka seems real," says college student Samir Saraogi.

The Grooms

Shah Rukh Khan

The eyes : He may look a little subdued after a KKR defeat, but otherwise the 43-year-old "not-conventionally-good-looking" man's eyes pack in more life than a 20-year-old's. Such eyes can only belong to a man made for success and who can charm his way out of any sticky situation. That's what women find irresistible. "I like the way Shah Rukh's eye crinkle when he smiles. It's oh-so-sexy" gushes college student Priyadarshini Jain.

The smile : Some find the lopsided smile arrogant. Most think it's sexy. Girls can't have enough of it. "I hate the way Shah Rukh Khan laughs, but his to die-for-smile more than makes up for it," says Priyadarshini.

The nose : The misshapen nose is perhaps the most unflattering one you have ever seen on a star, but SRK's appeal transcends it. There are many who like it. Such as homemaker Anita Mukherjee. "Shah Rukh's nose is pretty cute. The fact that he is not perfect in terms of looks makes him more appealing." Such a nose is found in someone who sets a high standard for himself.

The hair : He probably doesn't even comb his hair. But which woman wouldn't want to ruffle it?

Akshay Kumar

The smile : Women from six to 60 are turned on by the gummy smile. Disarming and boyish, Akki's smile is his most potent weapon. It indicates affability and simplicity.

The eyes : The romantic in Akshay shines through his eyes. "There is an innate honesty in Akshay's eyes. Anyone with such honest eyes makes for great husband material," says schoolteacher Antara Guha. (Last heard, Twinkle couldn't disagree more!)

The nose : Conventionally good-looking Akshay has a nose that is sharp and perfectly set, signifying aggression and precision.

The mouth : Like the rest of his body, sexy and inviting.

M.S. Dhoni

The eyes : Piercing. Always alert — on the field or off it. Was it Mahi's intense eyes that bowled over his latest maiden Lakshmi Rai?

The hair : We liked his long locks. We love his short, cropped look. "Dhoni's hair lends a lot of character to his face, something that makes a man extremely appealing," says advertising professional Mandira Bhattacharya.

The smile : That's one gorgeous smile. Especially when it appears after an Indian win. A combination of easy charm and ruggedness, suggesting oodles of confidence. Something every woman wants in her man.

The pockmarks : What's not-so-nice on Om Puri is sexy on Dhoni, contributing to more ruggedness.

Hrithik Roshan

The eyes : Light brown and piercing. In Jodhaa Akbar, Hrithik showed the world how much — and how well — his eyes could look at Aishwarya. Like Preity's, Hrithik's steady gaze indicates someone who is hardworking and of a forthright nature.

The nose : Like Akshay's, just a little more sharp. "Most women like men with a strong nose because it suggests a strong personality," says psychologist Prerna Anand Puri.

The hair : Whether on the Italian stud turn in Dhoom:2 or on the John Players man in billboards, long hair on an Indian hero has never looked so good. "Apart from John Abraham, Hrithik is the only Bollywood actor who can carry off long hair. In fact, he looks better," says Anita.

A.R. Rahman

He is above looks. Besides, the Oscar winner has humility writ large on his face. But the shy, self-conscious grin has many takers among the women. "The fact that he is intense and creative shows on Rahman's face," says homemaker Shalini Mukherjee. In a life partner, it doesn't get better than this.

PLUS

Scandalised by a "demure-looking" Rakhi Sawant announcing her quest for a husband on national television? The soon-to-be-aired Rakhi Ka Swayamvar on NDTV Imagine, in which the item girl coyly says, "Agar aap mein hai woh baat, toh le jaaiye mera haath," will line up 15 prospective men who will unashamedly woo her, despite the strong chance of becoming Mr Rakhi Sawant. Yes, for real. Maybe it will be followed by a long, low scream.

But before that, t2 comes up with a few suggestions for the right candidate — it has to be a forceful personality — for Rakhi Sawant :

Conan the Barbarian — The epic tale of the child of a man who seeks revenge against the warlord who massacred his tribe. The one who can tame Rakhi, if only Rakhi will allow it.

Gabbar Singh — Remember he was still at large when Sholay ended? He can only return to her arms.

Loin — The other legendary villain is undead too. Rakhi alone will be able to replace his troika of Sona, Mona and Raabert and help him cut costs.

Mallika Sherawat — That may shut up both of them.