Pretty in pink, Sushmita Sen was the star guest at the launch of SSBeauty, ‘India’s largest multi-brand beauty destination’ at Quest mall on March 21. Post the inauguration, Sushmita, whose middle names can very well be ‘personality’ and ‘warmth’, took a few quick questions from t2.
Welcome to Calcutta. We can’t remember seeing you in pink. Do you wear pink?
No, but this is a special request by SS Beauty and I had to gracefully comply because it is honestly time that I wore some colours, because if you leave it to me, I’ll be in black all the time, the time of the day notwithstanding.
You look so radiant, the colour of your lips matching your dress...
That one was work. I had to get that exact shade and then I am so jealous, I walk in here and didn’t quite realise that in a very crowded Quest happening mall, which has geographically got such limited space, you can have 9,000sq ft of this heaven. Between the make-up and skincare and the live experiences, which I found very interesting, the room we are sitting in (treatment room)... if I want something for skincare, I would like to test it here. I don’t want to go home and say, ‘Ei re, I have got the wrong thing’, which I have done a lot by the way! (Laughs) I love make-up. The funny thing is, porte bhalo laage na, but I love to buy make-up. Luckily, I have two girls (Renee and Alisah) and they maaro it! But aamar beshi porte pochhondo noi.
The make-up counters are stunning. I liked the nail bar. You can come and spend hours here. It’s a very exciting place. I have quickly asked them that Calcutta is fantastic, when are you opening in Bombay? (Laughs)
(L-R) Sushmita Sen, Preeti Goenka, Shashwat Goenka and Biju Kassim at the launch of SSBeauty at Quest. “I am super excited to announce the grand opening of the largest beauty store in the country. SSBeauty at Quest mall is a testament to our commitment to providing a cutting-edge shopping experience for the modern beauty enthusiast. More than just a store, it represents a bold shift in the beauty industry, ushering in a new era of retail innovation,” said Biju Kassim, CEO of Beauty at Shoppers Stop
What instantly attracted you?
It was obviously the fact that a lot of the brands here, I had never seen them under one roof, forget in India, because a lot of them are European.... For me, to (also) get homegrown skincare and make-up that is being fleshed out of Italy, is amazing. We are big consumers of that given that my profession is what it is.
In make-up, I am attracted to lipsticks. Everything else, my make-up artists list for me: ‘Get this shade, that colour’, because we use it a lot. If you see my pictures, I have dark glasses and have a nice, vibrant lip colour and I am ready. Typically, I am attracted towards skincare more.
Now when you come to Calcutta, are you proud of the city?
I have always been proud of the city. My baba (Subir Sen) still lives here and so much so that in terms of heritage, he had the choice to move to Bombay with me or to Salt Lake and he said ‘Naa, aamar baba’r bari ekhane (on Southern Avenue) and aami ekhane and I will live here’. Calcutta for me has always been home, only that I miss my family. They all passed away at different stages, my boro dadu, one kaku... I miss them... my para (neighbourhood) is my para.
What are you telling Renee and Alisah about beauty?
Located on the first floor of Quest mall, SSBeauty (part of Shoppers Stop), done up in shades of black, white and gold, is spread over 9,000sq ft and stocks makeup, men’s grooming products, skincare, a variety of fragrances and a haircare range. Added attractions include Treatment Room and a Nail Bar. Dior, Lancôme, Clinique, Kiehl’s, Clarins, Caudalie, First Aid Beauty, Farmacy, Laneige, Innisfree, Olaplex, Dyson, Bath & Body Works, clean beauty brands like Tinge, Juicy Chemistry, Color Chemistry, K-beauty brands like Klairs, Cosrx, Minimalist and Arcelia are some of the brands available. The make-up section stocks Renee, Kay Beauty, Faces Canada, My Glamm, Sugar, Chambor, Lakmé and Maybelline, among others. The fragrance section has brands like United Colors of Benetton, Jaguar, Arcelia, Guess, Diesel, Banana Republic, Mercedes-Benz, Jean Paul Gaultier, Paris Hilton, Skinn by Titan, Issey Miyake, Ralph Lauren, Dolce & Gabbana, Hermes, Bulgari, Gucci, Burberry, YSL, Carolina Herrera, Rabanne, Tom Ford, Versace, Maison Margiela, Jo Malone and Kilian. There are corners by Estée Lauder, Forest Essentials, Prada, Armani, Nars, Bobbi Brown and Mac too
Beautiful you asked this question, we have a tradition, I make my daughters wash their face in the morning. When we are together, aamra mukh ek shonge dhui and we admire the beauty that shines through, before the day begins. My daughter Renee, she would never step out without make-up. Now she only wears it for work. She’s grown to love herself and her skin. Make-up is a beautiful thing, but it can only enhance the beauty you already have. So, you can’t lose that.