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Mehr and director Mozez Singh who share a great friendship, on the sets of the advertisement

Women like to be admired but many like admiring themselves. Everything is scrutinised hands, wrinkles, the grey and the love handles. However, the part that they pay the least attention to might be the one that needs it the most.

Realising this, Elle magazine has roped in former supermodel Mehr Rampal and writer-director-producer Mozez Singh to be part of their breast cancer awareness campaign. The advertisements that are directed by Mozez star Mehr urging women to examine their bodies carefully and spot anything that is amiss.

Mehr was a unanimous choice to be the face of the campaign as she falls in the high risk age bracket of 30-40 years, leads a hectic urban lifestyle and is a 'super mom and super wife and never looks like she is making an effort' says Mozez. Mehr had a more personal reason for doing the campaign.

"I have seen the effects of breast cancer within my family," she confesses. "My mom and my sister have been taking the test. I have started taking the test in the last three years. My mom told me it's very important to do these tests. It is something I have practiced and should not be neglected," states Mehr.
 
Mozez says his involvement in the campaign came about over drinks. "Archana Pillai from Elle and I were having drinks and she said that they really want to do a campaign (on breast cancer awareness) and I thought about it for a second and agreed to do it. I did it for all the women who have played an important part in my life. I want to have a body of a work that makes the world a better place."

They hope to make the world a better place by: "Not only through the ad campaign but also through interviews, like these, I hope that people are made aware. It is a little expensive but the test should be done," says Mehr. Incidentally, WHO statistics indicate that testing for breast cancer is less in low-income countries.
"All of us are doing this for a good cause," she continues. The shoot was helped by the fact that it was her good friend Mozez directing her.

For Mozez, he could not have worked with a better person. "We went to her house with a truckload of shoes and clothes and my reference work. Her style is simple and unfussy." So in keeping with that, the advisements are also, as Mozez calls them, elegant and uncluttered and not ominous or scary. 

Mehr and Mozez seem to be contributing towards a good cause, but do the rest of Bollywood shy away from putting their name and millions to good use unlike their Hollywood counterparts? Mehr tries to clear the air "It's not only cancer, I know Bollywood wants to be helpful and give. But somehow things don't fall into place. Also, Hollywood gets more financial backing." And is there still a stigma attached to breast cancer, as Bollywood is not open about it? "There is no need to shout from the rooftops. I know people who are very open about a certain kind of treatment that they have undergone. In their own way people are talking about it," states the mother of two.

So does this mean that Bollywood's rocking guitarist, husband Arjun Rampal will also be part of the campaign? Mehr says that it all depends on the magazine, if they wish to bring him on board, "But as a husband he is very supportive of me taking the tests." Now that Rock On!! has received quite some praise, is Arjun always strumming his guitar? "No my daughters have taken over (laughs). They just love the music and Farhan's daughter also goes to school with them so they have a great time!" Mehr too seems to love the music if her caller tune Rock On is any indication.

Despite it being said that Mehr has moved out of the public eye, she does not feel so. "During my time, there was not so much media. Yes, we were part of magazine covers. But the media was never part of my life, something that was never there. My husband speaks volumes. There is no need for me to be part of it." However she still remains much in touch with Bollywood through their production company and is now in the middle of a movie.

Mozez for his part produces and directs the show On the Couch with Koel hosted by Koel Purie and was part of Kailash and Aarti Sundernath's line production team for the film, A Mighty Heart. About Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, he says, "They don't carry any ego baggage. They are charming and disarming. They put everyone at ease." He is now adding the finishing touches to his big budget Bollywood film script.

October being Worldwide Breast Cancer Awareness Month...
n Net-A-Porter.com has launched FTBC Fashion Targets Breast Cancer. You can shop for clothes and accessories by Ralph Lauren, Diane Von Furstenberg, Marchesa and other designers. Proceeds will go towards FTBC that supports the initiative to create awareness and raise funds for breast cancer treatment.

n NGO Roko Cancer will have mobile breast cancer detecting units in Mumbai by the end of this year. You can visit them on www.rokocancer.org