Sonam joins Aishwarya Rai to represent a cosmetic giant

After debuting in Sanjay Leela Bhansali's Saawariya followed by Rakeysh Omprakash Mehra's Delhi 6, Sonam Kapoor is now set to make a mark on the international modelling circuit. Anil Kapoor's daughter has signed her first endorsement as brand ambassador for the international cosmetic brand L' Oreal.

A youthful fit

Says a source in the modelling circuit, "Though Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan has been the brand's ambassador for more than three years, the company wants a more youthful face to launch its new range of products. Sonam fits the brand. She has already shot for her first ad which will be launched in January 2009."

Big moolah

Continues the source, "Sonam was signed for a huge amount commensurate with what the actresses of today like Kareena Kapoor and Priyanka Chopra are charging. The deal was brought about by celebrity management company, Atul Kasbekar's Bling."

The source adds, "Aishwarya hasn't been replaced. She will continue to be the older face of L' Oreal representing a woman in her 30s while Sonam will be the face of the younger generation. It's what they have in the USA too like when they had chosen Diane Keaton for their Age Perfect Pro Calcium Restorative Hydrating Cream and Age Perfect Skin Supporting and Hydrating Make-up. This is Sonam's first ad and she's choosy about what she does. She's in a wonderful place to be, having done films with Bhansali and Rakeysh Mehra two of the top five directors in India."

Layered persona

A source in Bling feels that Sonam also fits the space of "the elegant, sophisticated, elegant, classic beauty. Sonam's not sporty neither is she only plain beautiful. She's intelligent, articulate, with many intriguing layers to her persona, has a great pedigree, wonderful parents, is very smart and being well read can hold her own in any literary conversation. That makes her not just a national but international brand fit too."

Atul Kasbekar says, "I can't comment at this point on Sonam. At Bling, we don't believe in altering perceptions. The perception is that she's almost 6 ft tall, elegant, a beautiful and timeless beauty so we have portrayed her at the correct fashion spaces, hit her with a bunch of magazine covers. She's very well informed and well read. I gave her an autographed copy of Amitav Ghosh's latest novel Sea Of Puppies and she was thrilled! Good things are about to begin for Sonam."