The leading ladies of Hindi filmdom are in for serious competition from none other than their male counterparts with an ever increasing number of them shedding inhibitions and showing off chiseled torsos and butts.
Whether it is still shots of John Abraham with his shorts half pulled down, showing more than a hint of sculpted butt, in upcoming release "Dostana" or it is the towel-dropping scene of "Saawariya" filmed on Ranvir Kapoor, male nudity is on the high in Indian films.
Looking desirable matters, believes "Dostana"-maker Karan Johar. "No mainstream actor should run away from being sexy," he says. "It's as important for a man to look sexy as it is for a woman. Every superstar has had a high sex appeal - be it Mr. Bachchan, SRK or Hrithik. One must look desirable to be desirable."
"Dostana" promises plenty of display of male sexuality. The film features John in a pseudo homosexual relationship with Abhishek Bachchan even as both hanker for sizzling-hot Priyanka Chopra. Incidentally, Abhishek was named a gay icon a couple of years ago and will be seen working his brooding sexiness to the hilt in the film.
Director Apoorva Lakhia, who made "Shootout at Lookanwala" and "Mission Istanbul", believes that in India women don't go and watch action films, so it helps to have sexy looking men. And in a macho film, it is not uncommon to see girls doing awe-inspiring action stunts while the men look good.
Even mighty superstar Shah Rukh Khan realized what women want when he worked on his abs to reach six-pack status in his last mega hit "Om Shanti Om" after spending nearly two decades without having to take off his shirt for any scene.
The mood in the industry is that these days women want male skin show. It is in demand, says Abhay Deol, a relative newcomer in the industry. Hitting the gym was the first item on Hrithik Roshan's 'to-do' list when he set his eyes on entering filmdom. He managed his first hit without having to show his six-packs but when he had to revive his sagging fortunes it was an open shirt and extremely-low waist jeans that helped.
On the other side of the globe, Hollywood has always known that sex sells more than anything else. In fact, male frontals are getting unprecedented screen time at the multiplex these days - in mainstream popcorn fare and broad comedies - thanks in large part to comic mogul Judd Apatow, who has pledged to shake Americans from their squeamishness about male anatomy in movies.
And the girls are more than happy.
Sanjay Leela Bhansali seems to be having her worst days in bollywood. First it was his favourite Salman Khan refusing for his film Heera Mandi and now its John Abraham who said No for the project.
