Going by the popularity of makeover reality TV shows, it is but obvious that we adore them. Especially when a show brings in the tales of transformation and redemption to the comfort of our couch.
I imagine this could perhaps have something to do with a secret desire that most of us harbour within, that of getting a spectacular makeover done on ourselves someday. It is this secret yearning for a Cinderella-like fate that perhaps establishes the connect with this format of reality programming and keeps us tuning in for more.
The latest in this line-up of fairytale-format shows is Be Blunt with Adhuna Akhtar on TLC. Being the channel's first India-centric hairstyling and makeover series, it features celebrity hairstylist Adhuna, wife of actor-director Farhan Akhtar, and her brother Osh Bhabani, as they take on the challenge of transforming ordinary girls, giving them dream makeovers that don't just end with redefining hairstyles.
"The show is a natural extension of my passion for styling, which also happens to be my job. Teaming up with my brother Osh and giving our passion a new dimension has been a fulfilling experience," says Adhuna, looking visibly excited with the amount of interest the show has garnered.
While Adhuna goes about playing fairy godmother to the six lucky participants, one can't help but notice the energy that she infuses into the show. Be it the girl who wants to get rid of her kurta-jhola-chappal look or the one who wants to have a straight-out-of-bed look, Adhuna handles each of them with aplomb, keeping their distinct personalities in perspective.
When asked about the challenges faced during the making of the show, Adhuna shares, "In India, most of us want to live a new look as often as possible, but we obsess about long hair incessantly. Sometimes, that becomes the challenge, as it isn't always easy to restyle keeping the length intact."
Be Blunt packs in a lot more than expected out of a half-hour show. The makeover begins with hair, moving onto makeup and clothes, and at the end of the show, the participants get to meet their favourite Bollywood stars in their new transformed self. But what's interesting is that besides the dramatic makeovers, Be Blunt effectively captures a day in the life of Adhuna as you catch her rushing between various shoots and events, attending to her distinct clients and also, how she and Osh make Bollywood look good all the time.
Adhuna considers the recognition received for Dil Chahta Hai as one of the major turning points in life. She says, "The first film project we worked on was Dil Chahta Hai. It was also the first time that hair, and the overall look of every character in the film, was so dramatically addressed in detail. It brought a lot of recognition to us and the entire hairdressing industry as a whole."
So, who according to her is the most stylish person in Bollywood? "My husband, of course," she replies unabashedly and goes onto reveal that her career path was long set even before she met Farhan. Adhuna is also working on his look for his next film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, to be directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.
When she's not at work, she likes to indulge in reading, riding, sky-diving and even dabbles in painting, which she finds therapeutic. She confesses that there are times when her profession almost becomes an obsession with everyone else.
For, with Adhuna around, it is simply impossible to not think and talk hair. She laughingly admits, "Every woman I meet wants to talk hair. It is an occupational hazard but it's something that I enjoy very much and tend to give tips to everybody."
In case you've missed the week-long, six-episode package of the show on TLC, rest assured there will be re-runs of this mini-series, where Adhuna and Osh "change lives one haircut at a time"
I imagine this could perhaps have something to do with a secret desire that most of us harbour within, that of getting a spectacular makeover done on ourselves someday. It is this secret yearning for a Cinderella-like fate that perhaps establishes the connect with this format of reality programming and keeps us tuning in for more.
The latest in this line-up of fairytale-format shows is Be Blunt with Adhuna Akhtar on TLC. Being the channel's first India-centric hairstyling and makeover series, it features celebrity hairstylist Adhuna, wife of actor-director Farhan Akhtar, and her brother Osh Bhabani, as they take on the challenge of transforming ordinary girls, giving them dream makeovers that don't just end with redefining hairstyles.
"The show is a natural extension of my passion for styling, which also happens to be my job. Teaming up with my brother Osh and giving our passion a new dimension has been a fulfilling experience," says Adhuna, looking visibly excited with the amount of interest the show has garnered.
While Adhuna goes about playing fairy godmother to the six lucky participants, one can't help but notice the energy that she infuses into the show. Be it the girl who wants to get rid of her kurta-jhola-chappal look or the one who wants to have a straight-out-of-bed look, Adhuna handles each of them with aplomb, keeping their distinct personalities in perspective.
When asked about the challenges faced during the making of the show, Adhuna shares, "In India, most of us want to live a new look as often as possible, but we obsess about long hair incessantly. Sometimes, that becomes the challenge, as it isn't always easy to restyle keeping the length intact."
Be Blunt packs in a lot more than expected out of a half-hour show. The makeover begins with hair, moving onto makeup and clothes, and at the end of the show, the participants get to meet their favourite Bollywood stars in their new transformed self. But what's interesting is that besides the dramatic makeovers, Be Blunt effectively captures a day in the life of Adhuna as you catch her rushing between various shoots and events, attending to her distinct clients and also, how she and Osh make Bollywood look good all the time.
Adhuna considers the recognition received for Dil Chahta Hai as one of the major turning points in life. She says, "The first film project we worked on was Dil Chahta Hai. It was also the first time that hair, and the overall look of every character in the film, was so dramatically addressed in detail. It brought a lot of recognition to us and the entire hairdressing industry as a whole."
So, who according to her is the most stylish person in Bollywood? "My husband, of course," she replies unabashedly and goes onto reveal that her career path was long set even before she met Farhan. Adhuna is also working on his look for his next film Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, to be directed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra.
When she's not at work, she likes to indulge in reading, riding, sky-diving and even dabbles in painting, which she finds therapeutic. She confesses that there are times when her profession almost becomes an obsession with everyone else.
For, with Adhuna around, it is simply impossible to not think and talk hair. She laughingly admits, "Every woman I meet wants to talk hair. It is an occupational hazard but it's something that I enjoy very much and tend to give tips to everybody."
In case you've missed the week-long, six-episode package of the show on TLC, rest assured there will be re-runs of this mini-series, where Adhuna and Osh "change lives one haircut at a time"