True Calling

From winning the Miss Universe pageant to becoming a renowned face in Bollywood and now an entrepreneur. How would you describe your entire journey till date?

The journey has been exciting and it's been a lot of fun. There's been a tremendous amount of growth along with the great amount of hard work involved. I am the one who always tries to seize the opportunity and work really hard at it. I think over the years, I've also been somebody who's constantly wanted to reinvent herself. When I recall the time having won the Miss Universe pageant 19 years ago, it seems that it was somebody else's life.

L’Officiel India DigitalRead L’Officiel India in the digital libraryEvery issue and every cover story, on TCG Media.Read now

With a vision to strike a chord with modern-day women, Arias spreads the ideology of ‘beauty at its very essence’. What is the idea behind this skincare range?

Earlier women didn't have enough in terms of choices for brands that they could go to. Although today, we have everything available in India, all the brands are there, but you're going to buy a jar of cream from a company that's manufactured in Europe or in America. Notably, skincare needs to be an integral part of your everyday routine. So, the idea was to create something that is affordable, something that is effective, and something that was specifically for the Indian woman.

There is an undeniable shift in how society views women and how people have started embracing the art of self-love. Does your beauty label resonate with it?

I have spent 25 years of my life in an industry that is constantly telling women that they are attractive, but they can be more beautiful. They're wonderful, but they can enhance themselves more. This industry on both sides has constantly bombarded, especially women today, with social media, magazines, and a lot more. Here you are constantly being told that you need to be a better version of yourself. So, Arias’s main motto is to make women think about themselves first.

Today beauty is defined more on the physical attributes than the inside, which leads to encouraging people for going under the knife to get those perfect features. Your take?

Today women have an incredible amount of technology to enhance their features. If somebody feels that I am going to look better if I have a facelift or some amount of botox, so I think it's each person's personal prerogative. I believe that whenever we look into the mirror, we must love all parts of our body.

As a part of the film industry do you feel the pressure of being under the spotlight?

Yes, I do feel the pressure. Every little thing about your life is followed by the out there. I'm not really concerned about it because maybe in my 40s I am a more confident woman. Maybe getting older just gives you this kind of freedom that money can buy.

You are a mother and a businesswoman. What is your skincare routine like? Any go-to tips for skin and hair?

I believe that for looking good it is not necessary to apply several things on your face every single day. Hence, my skincare routine is pretty simple. I use a face wash to clean my face once or twice a day. I use a moisturizer and I make sure that it does have an SPF. Also, it necessary to follow a night skincare routine as it soothes and repairs the skin from within. And not to forget, when you feel good, you kind of automatically radiate that as well.

Bollywood has changed in terms of scripts and the portrayal of women in films. There are better roles. Are you reading any scripts?

Yes, I have been reading some scripts. But, if you're in your 30s or 40s, they want you to play somebody’s mother. So there are very few characters in the film that are still being written for women at our age. However, in terms of digital stuff, there are lots of exciting things coming up. I have loved reading some parts. And yes, I will actually be doing something as well.

Filmmakers are open to more women-centric films. Do you think if this would have happened 10 years back, things would have been different for you today?

I think it would have been harder for me. So, after the birth of my child, I changed hats and decided to be a producer. But the idea to turn into a producer wasn't that I wanted to be in every film that I produced.

What’s more on cards this year?

Well, Arias is a new baby, so we have strong expansion plans for the rise on that front. I am starting a new show. On the production front, I've got two huge projects, one internationally and one domestically been done. It's exciting times and I think I'm really happy because I'm in a space where I am doing exactly the kind of things that I want to be doing now.