Lara Dutta
Winning a pageant or sometimes simply participating in a contest can change your life. Outer beauty is just a part of the judgement, but what's important are your views and opinions that are shown to the world.Collection: Beauty
It is a challenge to be a showstopper and not just a model walking down the ramp. Even if you are a celebrity, you have to do justice to the clothes you are wearing and the designer you are walking for.
I have never understood the reason and logic of smoking.
I have fruit juices, cucumber juice and coconut water to cool myself in the hot weather.
I love animals, especially dogs, as I can have them as pets too.
To be brutally honest, when you win a title like Miss Universe, your entire life turns topsy-turvy for one year.
I am happy entertaining people.
Swimming gives me immense satisfaction.
Being a vegetarian, I make sure I eat enough raw fruits and vegetables.
I have always loved South Africa, where I shot 'Andaz' and 'No Entry.' Some of the biggest films of my career have been shot in Cape Town.
Being pregnant and carrying a child is a blessing unique to womankind and a mother instinctively wants the best for her child.
Yoga has always been an integral part of my life style. The benefits I have reaped from a constant practice have been invaluable to me.
I think I have specialised in comedy movies. And people have liked me in them.
When in a movie like 'Housefull' you have to create comedy out of falling on a glass table or jumping from huge heights, it's all action, but packaged as comedy. Here you don't just have to perform a heavy-duty action sequence, but you have to make it look funny and that is really difficult. But it's fun... and I really enjoy it.
Most people think that action movies are difficult and comedies are easy, but it's actually the opposite. Comedy can be a lot of hard work too.
Comedy is a lot of fun if you have costars who can help you perform better.
It does feel great to be Miss Universe in the millennium year.
Andaaz' gave me a firm footing in the industry. I would not be honest if I said I knew it would do well.
I have been extremely cautious in selecting my films.
Some people cannot understand why I insist on knowing about my role in a film before signing it.
I don't want to be seen in every second film. I don't want the audience to say, 'Oh no, she's in this one too.'
It's important to get maximum nutrition in the mornings - that's very important. I eat healthy, nutritive stuff that is full of fibre and which fills me up.
I have never really been obese.
Yoga helps one slow down the mind and focus better.
I am completely at my wits' end if I am unable to practice yoga for a few days at a stretch! Once you get into the flow it's difficult to leave it, precisely because of the way it affects your energy levels.
I have been involved with theatre since I was 13. I never seriously thought I would get into movies though I had every intention of continuing with theatre.
As Miss Universe, I made a huge effort to keep at least some areas of my life to myself.
A career is about learning to adapt yourself to the new environment and learning to sink or swim.
When you have a kid at home, it takes up all your time.
I play characters that allow me to do lot more than just be a glamorous heroine.
Pregnancy is treated like an illness in some sections of our society.
I've been my normal self during pregnancy. I want other women who get nervous and anxious to experience the same comfort as me and to not feel awkward about their weight or baby bump.
I just feel motherhood should be a happy stress-free period for all women.
I am learning how to strike a balance between my professional and personal life.
At the end of the day we need to experiment and if we start being too cautious, we'll end up working with the same actors and doing the same roles. That's how people get stereotyped.
Most of the time actresses are just left to play the actor's wife or girlfriend so there is not much to do. 'Chalo Dilli' was a refreshing change which was different and that's why I decided to work in it.
I try to do justice to whatever roles I take up and it really doesn't bother me whether I am paired opposite a superstar or a newcomer.
There is no longer any pressure to play the heroine. So I can have fun and be the actor I want to be. I can look beyond the hairstyles and the clothes and concentrate on the acting.
Comedy is one of the hardest genres. You can tell if it's working or not. If the director is convinced of the vision, you have to have faith in that.
Singh Is Bling' is a fun, entertaining film. I play a mad, geeky character called Imli. She has no sense of style. I am nothing like her in real life.
I've had a lot of success with comedy films.
I think pageants like Miss Universe give young women a platform to follow the field we want, a platform to voice our opinions and make us stronger.
A crash diet never works. You lose weight one day and add it the next.
I like writing.
I have not yet got one good reason why people smoke in life!
Reading helps you to be knowledgeable. It also improvises your vocabulary. It's a very good habit, extremely essential.
I have been a voracious reader.
I enjoy reading books.
The important thing is that you 'read!'
I have never been on a fad diet. I have always worked out and I know my balance.