Instant Bongshell: Get the Sushmita, Rani look

The British called Bengal, the eastern province of India, a land of eminent kingdoms and ferocious tigers.

"Naturally, there's an adorable, charming princess and a fierce, energetic tigress hidden inside every Bengali girl," says make-up guru Cory Walia. Cory talks animatedly about the Bengali beauties he enjoys working on, especially the Bong brigade of Bollywood.

"There is that elusive je-ne-sais-quoi. Their fish-fed skin, thick, dark hair, almond eyes weave magic around you," he says. The point of discussion is Kajol -- the light-eyed, lively actress, "who makes it impossible to look at anyone else, when she is on screen."

Cory analyses Kajol's looks and comes up with his take on what suits the actress best.

Kajol's personality: She has a strong personality, a screen presence you can't ignore. She is naturally confident and comfortable in her skin. Maybe that is the inner beauty we all talk about!

Kajol's looks: Her sensitive eyes and broad smile are the best parts of her face. Her eyes light up her face and make it look beautiful, whether she wears make-up or not. Her prominent nose and high cheek-bones need some special attention.

Her skin is dusky, but clear. Clear skin is always easy to work with.

Make-up mantra: The less is more for Kajol. Light, matt shades and a neutral look suits her dusky skin. If you have dusky skin, make sure:

• You always use the foundation of exact shade of your skin and not too light.
• Lip colours in earthy tones look better than outrageous purples or synthetic reds.
• Use sparkling or light eye-liners carefully. All may not suit you. Try before buying.

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Rani's personality: She can play a girl-next-door and a seductress equally convincingly. She has matured over the years. Now she seems to be at peace with herself. It shows in her serene smile.

Rani's looks: Her face has the typical Bengali qualities; it is round, with big eyes, a prominent nose, slightly chubby cheeks that give a fuller look. Her hair has a slight curly texture, which she prefers straightened out.

Make-up mantra: If you have Rani's brown eyes, be careful of the shades you wear on your face. For example, all pastel eye-shadow shades won't work with light eyes.

For a round face, you need to focus on a single feature to define it. If you are highlighting eyes, leave the rest of the face alone. If it's cheeks, keep the rest of the face subtly covered.

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Bipasha's personality: Bipasha wears her smouldering sexuality with sophistication and ease. It is not easy. You have to love your body and be passionate about life to carry off sensuality.

Bipasha's looks: Her eyes are the most exciting part of her face. They are perfectly almond-shaped, tapering towards her temples.

Her high cheek-bones and sultry pout add sex to her face. Her face is sculpted well. You can do a lot with her face.

Make-up mantra: To achieve Bipasha's seductress look, follow these steps.

• For the glow on your skin, eat a lot of proteins.
• Fish and mustard oil in your diet can work wonders for your skin.
• Make sure you have bronze and gold shimmer powder in your make-up kitty. Use the shimmer judiciously on the apples of your cheeks, nose and forehead for a glamorous look.
• Bipasha's look can't be complete without thick rim of kohl around your eyes. Outline your eyes first and then darken the lines.

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Sushmita's personality: She is feminine and graceful in everything she does. She is totally unassuming and charming -- always pleasant to converse with.

Sushmita's look: Her look is very international. Her face is thin and a little sallow, but her sharp features make up for it. The best part is her hair. She has silky hair with an amazing fall.

Make-up mantra: If you have an oval, thin face like Sushmita, make sure you stick to subtle make-up. Deeper shades will make your face look thinner and over-done.

• You will never catch Sushmita in very dark shades of lip colour. Neutral or earthy tones suit her lips.
• Condition your hair well to maintain the sheen. More so, if your hair is coloured or treated.
• If your eyes are not too big, go easy on kajal rims. Simply define your eyes with a liner.

Konkona's personality: She is a real sparkle! She can morph into any character effortlessly. Her eyes are very sensitive and transparent — they reflect most minute emotions.

Konkona's look: It's simple. That sums it. She never wears pretentious shades and loud accessories. Even her make-up adheres to the girl-next-door look. It's always refreshing to look at her.

Make-up mantra: For an ever-fresh look, keep your face scrubbed clean.

• Always remove make-up before you sleep.
• Wear minimal layers of make-up during the day.
• Nude, glossy lip shades go miles in making you look dew-fresh.