SHE PASSES NEW LOOK TEST!
Female stars go the extra mile to look true to their parts
Pooja Sharma
We’ve read about male stars transforming their bodies for their films, e.g. Aamir Khan looking both older and heavier and younger and fitter as a wrestler in Dangal; and Rajkummar Rao losing a lot of weight for Trapped. Now, female stars are not far behind in changing their looks and bodies to fit their characters.
They are increasingly going the extra mile — be it body piercing, radical hairdo, losing or gaining weight. It’s all worth it, as female actors are now getting meatier parts. Here’s a look at the current crop of heroines who’ve opted for substantial changes in their appearance, just for their roles.
WORTH THE ‘WEIGHT’
Dangal star Sanya Malhotra’s upcoming film, Vishal Bhardwaj’s Pataakha, required her to gain weight. She plays a small-town girl and is seen in the traditional Indian look.
Sanya says, “Right from Dangal, I’ve realised how important it is to not only feel and act the part, but also look the part. Even though it takes a tremendous effort to transform [myself] for each character, it’s immense satisfaction when you look the part. I had to gain 10kg for Pataakha and it helped me to be in the character.”
Taapsee Pannu had to work hard on her body for her latest outing, Soorma, in which she’s a hockey player. “I had to make sure that my body looks like the body of an athlete,” says Taapsee. “The body should be not only toned, but also agile. I worked on muscle strength, as athletes have that. It has been a thrilling experience.”
MANE MATTERS
Besides Soorma, Taapsee has Manmarziyan with Abhishek Bachchan, in which she’ll be seen sporting red hair. Then, Yami Gautam plays an intelligence officer in Uri and has short, no-fuss hair. “This is the first time I’ve gone short with my hair,” says Yami. “The role was a great reason. It’s exciting to be challenged by characters that help you push your limits, learn a new skill, or go through an appearance alteration. With the kind of content that’s made today, actors should be open to exploring different looks.” This list also has Fatima Sana Shaikh, who’ll be seen in a different avatar in Thugs of Hindostan — she shaved a part of her eyebrow and opted for painful hair extensions.