Koena, Riya in 'face'-off

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sheetal

@sheetald

Rocker

Posted: 19 years ago

I take it as a compliment if people think I have gone under the knife to look good, when actually, it's all natural. People don't use their brains before asking such ridiculous questions — I am not
at an age where I need a facelift
— Koena Mitra

My face is my biggest asset, and it's worth a fortune! I wouldn't do anything to it.... If Koena is spreading rumours that I have had a facelift, it speaks volumes about her (Koena's) insecurity
— Riya Sen

All is not well between Bengali damsels Koena Mitra and Riya Sen.

The two leading ladies of Subhash Ghai's Money, Money, Money (directed by Sangeeth Sivan), do not see eye to eye.

Sivan's sharp eye

A unitwalla spills the beans; "Things went sour between Koena and Riya when Koena started telling people that Riya has undergone a facelift.

But this backfired on Koena, when Sivan suspected that Koena herself had got something done to her face. He had seen her after a long lay-off, and questioned her on her altered looks."

Admits Sivan, "It happened during the music launch of Ghai's Shaadi Se Pehle. Yes, I did ask Koena what she had done to her face. She was looking very different from when I had seen her last, during the first schedule."

I've heard of facelift

What did the actress say? "Koena told me that there was some problem with her teeth. She had had a tooth removed, and hence her face looked swollen." Sivan said that Koena did not tell him that she had undergone any enhancement procedure. "But I have heard that Koena has had a facelift.

Koena and Riya with Money, Money, Money producer Subhash Ghai

People have been talking about it on the sets," reveals the director.

According to our source, the Saki Saki girl felt threatened by Riya (who plays a traditional Indian girl), and had started dressing like her in the film; she plays a sexy bar dancer, and wore an Indian outfit for a scene in the climax.

Sivan, however, supports Koena on this. "Yes, Riya plays an Indian girl in the film. But the climax has a shaadi sequence, and Koena was justified in wearing an Indian outfit for that scene," he maintains.

Face is my fortune

Riya said, "No comments" when asked if she and Koena were friends. On the facelift issue, she snarled, "My face is my biggest asset, and it's worth a fortune! I wouldn't do anything to it even if I were given a billion dollars. If Koena is spreading rumours that I have had a facelift, it speaks volumes about her insecurity."

And Raima Sen called us to support her sister. "Riya and I come from the family of Gayatri Sen, Maharani Gayatri Devi, Suchitra Sen and Moon Moon Sen. We will never need a facelift." Famous last words?

No cold war with Riya, says Koena

Koena Mitra

Koena Mitra is extremely hurt at allegations made by Riya Sen, with whom she has worked in Money Money Money, that she has had a facelift.

According to Koena, "it is Riya who is going around maligning me and talking against me. I don't know what her problem is, or why she's doing this, but I have nothing against Riya."

Does the actress have a cold war going with Riya? "I have no cold war with Riya, and have nothing against her. For days, we sat, chatted and shared lunch on our sets; it's been pure Bengali bonding.

Riya is a very sweet and pretty girl. I know she has been telling people that I am saying she's had plastic surgery — but that's totally untrue! Why would I say something like that? Riya is naturally beautiful and doesn't need plastic surgery... not yet," smiles Koena.

What about reports that Koena herself has undergone cosmetic surgery? Is that the reason she's looking so pretty these days? "I take it as a compliment if people think I have gone under the knife to look good, when actually, it's "natural". People don't use their brains before asking such ridiculous questions — I am not at an age where I need a facelift.

This is a trend in our industry; when you put on weight, they strip you, and when you work on your body, lose weight and look good, they call it plastic surgery! Right now, I am working in some great films and don't have the time or inclination to waste my breath on such rumours," grins the actress.