Remember the innocent, dimpled, sugary sweet Shah Rukh Khan of the Deewana and Kabhi Haan Kabhi Naa days? Now fast forward to 2007: think of the Dard-e-Disco-ed SRK, with six packs et al. Jog your memories to Kareena Kapoor two years ago. Chubby, untoned body, a waist that was literally a waste! 2008: Kareena 'sizzling' Kapoor wearing a bikini in Tashan. Svelte, sexy, chic. If you've got it, flaunt it baby, and now that Kareena's got all that and more, boy is she flaunting her new avatar? It's a package, the new look comes with a new image. Enter makeovers.

 

Take a closer look at the films and filmstars of the late 80s, early 90s and you'll see that makeovers are currently the name of the game. We all remember Sridevi doing her Naa Jaane Kahan Se Aayi Hai dance number in Chaalbaaz. No doubt that song was a hit but her extreme curly hair, thunder thighs and garish make-up would make anyone in their right fashionable mind squirm.

But look at the 40-plus, mother of two Sridevi of today — after having lost oodles of weight and dressing right, the Southern siren is now super hot! So much so that she even walked the ramp as the show stopper at the recent Fashion Week in Mumbai. Dressed in a golden gown, the golden girl of Bollywood looked haute.

Then there's Karisma Kapoor, the hit actress of the 90s. Her bubbly roles were complemented by her chubby looks and buffon hair (remember her debut film Prem Qaidi) until Dil To Pagal Hai when she shed those kilos (and those eyebrows) and became the sporty, sexy Lolo.

But that was just a sign of things to come. Post-marriage, this Kapoor babe has scorched notches higher on the sex-i-meter! Who would believe this yummy mummy is a mother of a three-year-old daughter? Her leaner-than-ever frame and straight, long hair only add to her elegance. But what's also changed is her wardrobe.

From bright colours and a lot of blacks, Karisma has off late, mostly been seen in whites and pastel shades. Designer Karishma Trehan, whose saris Karisma dons on most occasions, says it's a deliberate attempt on Lolo's part to get the international look. Talking about her fascination for pastels, she says, "Karisma likes playing neutral now, instead of sporting attention-seeking colours like earlier. She doesn't want to be the showstopper anymore, yet the attention to detail deserves more than just one look. Her clothes make a statement, although not an-in-your-face one."

Moving on to actresses that followed in the coming years. Case in point: Shilpa Shetty. One look at her today and you can't help but look again. The most perfect curves, a waist one could kill for, a dazzling smile, and to top it all, panache and ladylike elegance. Flashback to 1993, when Shilpa made her debut in Baazigar. A gawky girl, with ludicrous curls, with a wardrobe you'd not want to be seen wearing in public!

The talent and the potential was there, the grooming was missing. Once that was done, here was a confident woman who can stand her own, not just a Bollywood actress but an international public figure. "Shilpa is the perfect example of a makeover, in the truest sense of the word. Hers is a complete transformation, right from her hair to her smile to the way she walks and carries herself," says fitness expert Deanne Panday, who has worked with Shilpa and seen her 'transform' over the years.

There's also Sameera Reddy who has shed the fat and is looking hotter than ever now. "Hers was more of a change in looks and body structure, not a complete image makeover," says fitness expert Leena Mogre, who is responsible for the new, slimmer and fitter Sameera. Two months of rigorous am and pm workouts that comprised weight training and power yoga and a diet comprising fruits, salads and proteins is the secret of Sameera's new bod.

The same can be said of Bipasha Basu. The reason behind Bipasha's sex appeal and toned body, Leena believes, is a change in her lifestyle. "She has made exercise a part of her life. She understands the strengths and weaknesses of her body and works around them," says Leena. Deanne Panday, who has also trained Bipasha, agrees. "In Bipasha's case, the makeover is more of the body than the entire personality. Fitness-wise, she has transformed; she's the only fit actress in the industry today. But with that, she has also now achieved the status of a style icon. She was always sexy, now she's looked upon as trendy too. Youngsters look up to her for fashion and beauty tips. She's got the guts to experiment with trends and hairstyles, and that's an added advantage," says Deanne.

But it ain't just the women who are hotting things up with their new-found, made-over status, the men are providing as much guy-candy for the female folk. Not to be left behind in the if-looks-could-kill race, the men want to look uber cool too. Case in point, Chhote Nawab Saif Ali Khan. From the gawky, lanky Saif of Main Khiladi Tu Anari, he's now the sizzling protagonist of Race and antagonist of Omkara. The gangly limbs are replaced by well-built muscles, the just-attained-puberty, boyish looks have transformed into raw sex appeal, and a few awards, lots of appreciation and a string of lady loves later, the confidence levels are soaring. All that equaling to a savvier Saif Ali Khan.

Then there's the original ‘khiladi' of Bollywood — Akshay Kumar. The long locks got chopped down to a crew cut, the filmi, colourful shirts of the early 90s got discarded for ganjees and vests (showing off the biceps and fuzz-free chest) and the new comedy king of the box office is renewed charm. But the 'king of makeovers' is the Badshah of Bollywood, Shah Rukh Khan. The romantic hero suddenly took off his shirt and showed off the sleekest six pack abs. Nobody could ever imagine that SRK could get a six pack!
Now that's another total makeover!

Anything for a role
Sheer determination (Bebo wanted to look lean and sexy for a bikini shot in Tashan), regular workouts, power yoga and sensible eating was responsible for the ‘controversial’ size zero Kareena Kapoor . Rujuta Diwekar, her dietician, lets us in on what Kareena ate and didn't eat to loose the flab and get that fab bod. "Kareena didn't want to go on a diet per se, she didn't want to stop eating. So her weight-loss plan was all about eating correct, and eating the right foods at the right time. It's very important that one is educated about one's own body and the needs of one's body before starting a diet plan," says Rujuta, continuing, "Kareena ate 7-8 small meals a day, depending on her erratic work schedule. The diet and the meal timings constantly changed as she was always travelling for shoots. But the bottomline was matching her intake with her expenditure," says Rujuta. Reportedly now Kareena is all set to put on a few kilos as it would complement her character in Mr. & Mrs. Khanna

Other successful makeover stories
Preity Zinta — From a bubbly, cute girl in jeans to an elegant, classy actress donning designer gowns and chic dresses
Sushmita Sen — From a gawky teenager who won the Miss India title to a confident lady who took the Universe and Bollywood in her stride. Her sex appeal hugely lies in her confidence. She single-handedly faced the world, to adopt and become a single mother, to admit to the fact that she had a boob job (something most actresses do, but never admit to).
Aishwarya Rai — From the quintessential beauty, the demure Ash has changed her image to a sexy 'Dhoom' girl who wears black nail paint and leather.
Rani Mukerji — Raja Ki Aayegi Baraat, Rani's debut movie, can best be forgotten. Her thunder thighs in Ghulam and Kuch Kuch Hota Hai must be forgotten. What should be remembered is her sexy new look in Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna, complemented by a smarter wardrobe both on and off-screen.

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