Mumbai, Aug. 6 -- Gone are the days when being skinny was considered hot. With the new lot of actors such as Sonakshi Sinha, Parineeti Chopra and debutante, Alia Bhatt, flaunting their voluptuous bodies, B-town now thinks curvy is the new sexy. "I work hard to maintain my figure and always try to look better. But I don't believe in going to an extreme or being stick-thin. Also, if I have been accepted for the way I look, why would I do anything to change it? I'm happy with the way I look," Sonakshi told HT Cafe some time ago. She used to weigh 90 kg before she signed the Salman Khan- blockbuster Dabangg (2010) and lost 30 kg prior to the shoot of the film. "I don't believe in the size- zero fad. Girls should be lean and healthy rather than stick-thin. In fact, I feel boys also don't like thin girls," says Alia with a laugh.
Ask trade analyst Taran Adarsh about it, and he says, "Somewhere down the line it's definitely working well for these actors and their films. Everyone was not too happy with the size-zero fad. It was an exception. Back in the '70s, being curvy was considered sexy. Even the sex symbols of the time - Zeenat Aman and Parveen Babi - were not essentially thin or skinny." With these actors, who are more confident and comfortable in their skin, the focus is now moving from being thin to being a better actor. Producer
Ramesh Taurani says, "We need more heroines in Bollywood. This new lot is definitely doing great. And as far as being curvy is concerned, it's working well for our films. Also, the way they look depends on the film."
Director Sajid Khan agrees. He says, "Voluptuous has always been sexy. Yes, these actors are confident, they're smart and are on the right track. They're also comfortable with the way they look."
Ask psychologist Mansi Hasan if she believes that the views of the masses are now changing, and she says, "To look attractive is important, but being skinny is not the way to be anymore. The importance of being healthy is being highlighted with actors like Sonakshi and Parineeti. They're curvy, not fat."
She adds, "People's perception is changing. Being a size-zero or very thin indicates a certain kind of obsession with losing weight. Even nutritionists nowadays are making women look curvaceous." fans feel... Shruti Sharma, 24: "I think being curvy is sexy. Size zero makes you look anorexic. I like the way Parineeti looks. She's pretty and has a healthy body."
Zeeshan Sheikh, 27: "I like thin women. Personally, I'm not a fan of skinny women, but I'd like them to not be plump either. I guess, someone like Deepika Padukone has the perfect body. She isn't fat or too thin."
Published by HT Syndication with permission from Hindustan Times.