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When Beauty meets Time

Demi Moore is now at the same point of philosophical grasp that King Yayati was centuries ago. Beauty is but a fleeting moment with a bright halo around her head

Demi Moore, the patron saint of fabulous at forty, (with a little help from surgeons and botox), has decided to let go and let it all hang out. Wonder what toy boy Ashton Kutcher would have to say as Ms. Moore's body scrupulously obeys the laws of gravity.

All of us marvelled at Demi when she appeared bright, toned, nipped and tucked as fallen angel Madison in Charlie's Angels 2. We collectively gasped at the wonders that money and science could buy as she emerged from the ocean in her introduction scene in a teeny-weeny, itsy, bitsy bikini looking literally like a million bucks.

Agreed tinsel town is obsessed with youth and one can always shrug it off with the "that's showbiz" theory. Remember the wicked Robert Zemeckis film Death Becomes Her (1992) where rivals in love Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn drink from the fountain of youth becoming increasingly brittle as they come apart in pieces and have to go to mortician and object of affection Bruce Willis for touch ups?

"Cinema and the world of glamour are all about escapism right?" demands Sandeep, a physicist. "Ageing reminds one of the march of time and death that is inevitable. So basically all these enhancements and surgeries are a way to cheat time and death." Oooh is that metaphysical or what?

So we have our little giggles about Michael Jackson's face coming apart and repress a shudder at Cindy Jackson who with 46 operations is Britain's most surgically enhanced woman and then console ourselves with Toc! Toc! These foreigners are crazy!

It is however not only people from the entertainment industry who obsesses about youth. There are many in town that believe that there is nothing wrong in getting a little help from technology to look good. Pooja Bedi, brand ambassador for Kaya Skin Clinic cheerfully insists: "No one wants to look like a prune at 60. I have an expressive face and I had these huge, deep, wrinkles on my forehead. And so I got botox done and now my forehead is smooth as a baby's bottom. I do not think it is shallow to obsess about how one looks. What is wrong with using the best money can buy to look one's best?"

Everyone subscribes to the feel good aspect. Beauty queen Niharika Singh says: "it is an individual choice and if it makes one feel better then why not? A thought echoed by Chairperson of the Children's Film Society Nafisa Ali. "I am too scared to do anything like that but if people feel better about how they look with a procedure, then I guess it is okay," says the former Ms. India.

For actress and model Perizaad Zorabian, Nafisa is a role model. "I do not have the courage to do any of these procedures. I would love to age gracefully like Nafisa Ali. I like the beauty that comes with age."

Bina Kapoor who works with style guru Prasad Biddapa says: "There is only so much one can do with clothes and make up. I coordinate models and am around beautiful people all the time. I am 55 and would like to look good. Why should I look old? I have no hassle with age but will fight every wrinkle. It is not about ageing so much as the confidence that comes with looking good."

Not just women

And it is not only women who are going in for procedures to make them look good. Kumar, 45, who deals in pharmaceuticals says: "Exercise keeps the body young but I looked old as my face was sagging and I had a double chin. I think a facelift is a good thing if you want to look presentable. I consider it money well spent."

That is the other thing. Looking good costs a pretty penny. Anti-ageing packages like age-defying facials, non-surgical face-lift, skin tightening service and Botox fillers come in a range that's between Rs.1, 500 to 10,000.

As Sheeja (30) an HR worker with Intel says: "I think exercise is the best option. My friend went in for all these treatments and it does not seem to have made any difference. I think it is a waste of money."

There are those who feel it is money well spent and others who think it is a criminal waste. "Just keep yourself busy and see your skin glow and your health improve," says A. Jacob, ex-serviceman who barely has time what with teaching and writing books.

"As long as you are occupied, you are contributing to society in a positive way and confidence comes automatically."

Sane advice. But how many worshipping at the altar of appearance are willing to give it a shot?

MINI ANTIKAD-CHHIBBER

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