Hollywood romcom Crazy, Stupid, Love (2011) will always be remembered for Emma Stone's classic comment on Ryan Gosling's 'perfect' washboard abs. The moment he drops his shirt, unable to believe her eyes, she screams in disbelief, “F*** Seriously! It's like you are photoshopped!“ You could relate to her candid scepticism as people are seldom perfect. Two years ago, Jennifer Lawrence had triggered a photoshop controversy by cheekily acknowledging that she looks nothing like the way she does in ad campaigns.

The annually-published Pirelli Calendar seems to have found its inspiration in this. It seems no one is perfect, not even Hollywood divas, who often give you 'beauty goals'. Peter Lindbergh, the German photographer behind this year's edition, has captured iconic actresses like Uma Thurman, Helen Mirren, Nicole Kidman, Kate Winslet and Julianne Moore in near makeup-free close ups. These images featuring actresses in their natural avatar have caught everyone's attention and intend to make a statement against the 'terror' of perfection. Lindbergh told a British publication, “The goal is to show real women. Not to show the stretched and manipulated, emptied women you see in the magazines today. It's more powerful when you see these women how they normally are.“

NO-MAKEUP MOVEMENT GAINS GROUND
Lately, various actresses like Kate Winslet, Scarlett Johansson, Gwyneth Paltrow and Cameron Diaz have been campaigning for positive body image by driving the 'no-makeup movement' on social media. They've courageously posted their no makeup pictures online with special messages.

Excerpts from Kate's message, which she posted last year, read, “I know I am chubby and have bad hair days. I know I have wrinkles on my skin, but today I want you to see beyond that. I want to embrace the real me and I want you to embrace who you are, the way you are, and love yourself just the way you are.“

Scarlett wrote, “I have seen young girls follow celebrities and try to be one of them. They try to attain perfection, have the perfect body, perfect skin tone. They aren't fully aware of the fact that behind the fact that behind the looks there are a lot of designers, makeup artists, and photoshop/video editing. Their whole sense of beauty is flawed.“

Back home, makeup expert Mickey Contractor says, “I'm totally for the initiative to appreciate beauty in its natural form. I think those who want to be true to the cause will pose for a camera without makeup. And those who aren't too confident or comfortable with how they look, will dab on a wee bit of makeup. That's fair. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan is one of the most beautiful and near-perfect faces in the world. But even her face has some minor flaws which we tactfully tuck away under a thin layer of makeup whenever needed.“

Makeup artist Mallika Bhat, who often collaborates with Kareena Kapoor Khan and other celebrities, points out that even a no-makeup look requires some effort. “No artiste ever faces the public without makeup. Even their no-makeup look is created using elements of makeup. And rightfully so, because the camera catches everything. Even a small blemish on their face is not missed.“

Sonam Kapoor recently blogged, ('I Didn't Wake Up Like This') debunking the myth of perfection. She wrote (excerpts), “We've been taught that women need to be flawless even when our flawlessness is wildly implausible, sexy even when our sexiness is a break from plot. We're sprinting through Jurassic Park in heels, fighting supervillains in strapless corsets, being stranded on deserted islands for days without a hint of stubble. Real female bodies are so taboo that hair-removal cream ads show hairless legs even before the cream is applied.“ She rightly pointed out, “The rules of beauty are strict and it's almost impossible to win. Anushka Sharma has been skinny-shamed, Sonakshi Sinha has been fat-shamed, Katrina Kaif has been fit-shamed. These are women who are and always have been staggeringly beautiful.“

Actor Sushant Singh Rajput made an interesting observation on how even men are not spared in the pursuit of perfection. He told BT, “I think there's a lot more to our unending and futile fixation on perfection. We search for a perfect order in everything and we incessantly fool ourselves in believing that we know what we want. Girls have to do all sorts of things to appear taller, fairer and have proportionate features because we think that this is what would make them look attractive. We may be aware of this charade but we cannot let go of this pursuit (of perfection) because we take ourselves way too seriously .“

IMPERFECTION IS BEAUTIFUL
When asked if she would dare to go on camera without makeup, actress Aditi Rao Hydari nodded in the affirmative, stating, “I've been photographed many times with no makeup for shoots as well as for films and sometimes even at events. I also go the au naturel route in my everyday life not to prove a point but because I feel that is who I am and I'm happy for people to see that and love me for it. We needn't buy into the factory-manufactured prototype of beauty because it's actually our flaws that make us unique and memorable, So, own them and enjoy them.“

INTERNATIONAL PHOTO SHOOT NOT 'EMPOWERING' ENOUGH?
While some are supporting the campaign, some also believe that it's not enough unless it sparks a credible change in our perception of 'beauty'. Actress Richa Chadha, who wore minimal makeup in Masaan and a few other films as well, reasons, “No one is perfect. I am an actor and I am telling you no one is perfect but I will believe in the feminist, real beauty agenda when the calendar features real women - women with stretch marks, cellulite and blackheads. You want to show real beauty, show real women. Not women who have had decades of experience of facing the camera. Actors age well because they have to.“

Nonetheless, we do believe that a beginning has been made and these women, in their own unique way have inspired us to be who we really are. Movements like these will give us courage to be ourselves.

-With inputs from Neha Maheshwri, Lakshmi V, Reza Noorani and Zeenia Baria

THROUGH THE LENS

Atul Kasbekar
Artistes have shot for parallel cinema in a similar fashion way back in the 70s and 80s. Today, actors are comfortable in their skin, Vidya Balan and Sonam Kapoor for example. But celebrities, especially those from the film fraternity, are seen as larger-than-life figures. So, there is constant pressure on them to look perfect even when they wake up from their sleep. Paparazzi photographers are constantly chasing them at airports, spas, gyms and places where they may not be seen with makeup. At times, they get badly written about because they repeated their footwear, accessories, wore the same shirt, didn't wear any makeup or looked a tad bit bloated. Not that it matters but some people make a living by highlighting this.“

Avinash Gowariker
Celebrities have to be perfect as they are always in the public eye. I understand their need to look perfect and appreciate that. But the biggest contradiction in this space is Rajinikanth. He doesn't mind piling his face with makeup for roles but has no qualms coming out as he is, in public. On the other end of the spectrum is Michael Jackson who has never been seen without makeup. A few months ago, Cindy Crawford came out with pictures, without makeup. I didn't like it despite being a huge fan. We love our celebrities for who they are. The idea is to be consistent with your portrayal of who you are. Don't change your look suddenly. It's a knee-jerk exercise. Most Indian celebrities are proud of their physicality.


Dabboo Ratnani
People expect an actor or a popular face to be desirable. They look up to them for their 'X' factor, which makes celebrities put their best foot forward. Many of them would be okay posing before the camera without an ounce of makeup. Shooting without makeup requires a star to trust the photographer and his sense of aesthetics and lighting. It's important how you're shot. Today, retouching a picture has gone to another level. Fortunately, the stars I shoot with don't ask for retouching. They are aware that people know what they actually look like. Also, they have increasingly become confident about the idea of shooting with less make-up and minimal retouching, thanks to social media.