When Neither Life or Art Imitate Each Other

This is something that's been bugging me. I would love some longer replies about this, especially from anyone whose nickname is one of a fish and has like 6 masters degrees in journalism and media.

The below "fashion" statistics were first consciously and diligently noted after I left Bombay, but I find it hard to believe that that whole city's numbers would be so schewed to the point where my question is moot.

Indian clothing: Definitely 95% or more of Indian women wear traditional Indian clothing. I know this because when I spot one wearing Western garb, I notice it as if she were a stock broker with an eyebrow piercing.

Mustaches: I think around 80% or more of men from 22 years and up sport just a mustache. Many often let their other fluff grow into a goat now and then, but inevitably tire of it and go back to that Kentucky look. From the days of old, mustaches have been considered a symbol of being a "real" man, whatever that means.

Bollywood: In the recent commercials, movies (of which I've only seen bits here and there), music videos, and TV shows (bits and pieces again) obviously coming out of Bombay, almost everyone wears Western clothing and all the men are clean-shaven like a baby's bottom or have some Brad Pitt, hip facial hair look going on.

Bombay is by far the biggest producer of TV/movie entertainment in India, and even the world. And it's obvious to me that this Bollywood stuff is saying that "our traditional appearances" are not appropriate for hip TV entertainment. The West is where it's at baby.

It would be understandable if it was certain, super Western influenced movies like the action blockbusters with tons of stunts, but we're talking EVERY single commercial, movie trailer, and soap opera I see has clean shaven men and women wearing, often quite sexy, Western threads.

But the people in everyday life aren't catching on. I mean even in most American movies the majority of characters look and dress like people you see everyday. So why is there such a huge gap here between what's on screen and the reality?

I smell thesis....