Katrina Kaif is ready to make her red carpet debut at the 68th Cannes International Film Festival, but says she intends to enjoy the platform, which weaves cinema, fashion and beauty together, instead of fretting over her looks.
The Bang Bang! actress will walk the red carpet at the event as the ambassador of cosmetic brand L’Oréal Paris on opening night, May 13.
“I don’t think I’m going there to set any trend or look. I don’t think that is my intention. I think my intention is to be me,” she said.
“That’s the reason L’Oréal has signed me as the ambassador — for what I represent. I will find something that I’m comfortable in and will not get carried away to make a statement. I think one should be true to one’s own self and enjoy the festival and the platform which celebrates cinema, fashion and beauty trends as well,” she added.
The 31 year old is yet to decide on her look for the film festival, but says that she will pick the ensembles soon.
“I have not decided the look yet. We would be working with the team at Cannes, which consists of some amazing hair and beauty technicians. We haven’t thought whether it would be Indian or western look. We haven’t made any plans but we will zero in on it soon,” the actress said.
She knows her look at the event will be minutely judged, but she just wants to have a good time and enjoy international cinema.
“Criticism is there wherever you go. I am not a designer or a fashion editor that I need to know every trend. I am an actor and this is a part of my job. Their job is to comment. So I hope we all can coexist peacefully. But no point thinking about it from now only.
“There is always another day. It is not the end of the world. Try and enjoy the moment. Because if you are so caught up in the pressures and stresses, when you look back you realise you didn’t enjoy that time, you didn’t appreciate the place you were [in],” Kaif said.
The actress, however, admitted she is nervous about her red carpet appearance and will take it as a learning experience.
“Of course, anything new or an unknown territory is always like that, you don’t know what to expect. But rather than thinking that the whole world would be looking at you and what others are wearing, I think the intention should be to go and have a good time.
“It will be a learning experience for me, I will see new things and it will be about finding your feet,” she said.
L’Oréal Paris will celebrate 18 years of its partnership as the official make-up partner for Festival De Cannes this year with ‘Matte or Gloss’ as the beauty trend. Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Sonam Kapoor will also attend as ambassadors of the brand. Kapoor will attend the event on May 16 while Rai Bachchan will be walking the red carpet on May 17 and 20.
“I am excited about watching the films in competition,” said Kaif. “The opening film [Emmanuelle Barcot’s La Tete Haute] is being talked about a lot. I think it will be good to see international cinema.”
A cursory glance at the bouquet of films at the festival will highlight the lack of Indian presence. Apart from first look of Jazbaa, Punjabi film Chauthi Koot and Neeraj Ghaywan’s debut feature Masaan are headed to the international film festival. The actress terms the dearth of Indian films as a passing phase.
“I think every year is different. Sometimes we have the right kind of films for the festival and sometimes we don’t. So I think this is just not year.”
“I’m sure there will be many more years to come,” Kaif, who had a slow start in Bollywood with Boom, but went to draft a successful story with hits such as Namastey London, Welcome and Singh Is Kinng, said.
Currently, Kaif is working on Fitoor and Jagga Jasoos.
