Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
`We'll have a blast in China'
|
Shamshad and Divya Ramprasad hold forth their views on life, modelling career and the forthcoming contest in China
|
There's talent here, but we are not pushy enough Divya
PRETTY PAIR The models share lighter moments, besides their love of saris PHOTO: K.V. SRINIVASAN
Their faces are familiar. They light up city hoardings, add a touch of glamour to print ads and enliven television commercials. They are faces that launched dozens of products and pushed up sales at several retail stores. Meet Chennai girls Divya Ramprasad and Shamshad Begum, both of whom made it to the Ms. India finals. The two have now been selected by modelling firm DreeamCast to participate in an international modelling contest in China, in September.
As Divya and Shamshad court the camera with spontaneity, it is clear that these ramp scorchers have it in them to make it big.
T. Krithika Reddy records the many moods in their conversation...
(There's a bit of girlie gushing as the duo take the tape recorder and scream "Hi! Take Two")
Shamshad: See, it's recorded, so we better behave! (Laughs)
Divya: Tell me Shamshad, aren't you thrilled about this contest in China?
Shamshad: True. I was hoping that something like this happens after the Ms. India pageant.
Divya: Have you started shopping — for clothes, accessories, shoes?
Shamshad: Shoes? We models have a whole range of footwear. If I shop for more, my parents are going to throw me out.
Divya: We will have to be in China for 15 days. There are five rounds — national costume, Western formal, cocktail, eveningwear and swimwear.
Shamshad: For the national costume round, I'd love to wear a sari.
Divya: Me too, with a fancy blouse and lots of jewellery. There's nothing quite like the sari. Tell me, do you think we'll make it? With over 60 countries participating?
Shamshad: Yes, we are going to return with laurels. I feel a lot more confident after the Ms. India show. When you go to Mumbai or New Delhi, you realise there are a lot of misconceptions about people from the South. We are yet to be discovered fully. At the pageant, people couldn't even believe that South Indians speak flawless English.
Divya: Yes, there is so much talent here. But the thing is, we are not pushy enough. I've seen it happen at the shows. By the time you even open your mouth to say something, the Delhi-ite would have trampled all over you and made it. That's us. We think too much before saying or doing something. But now I've learnt to speak my mind and get my way. Three years ago, even people in Chennai preferred only Mumbai models. And the joke was, when a model from Chennai moved to Mumbai and sent her pictures back here, she was accepted because of that "From Mumbai" tag. (they both laugh) But thankfully, things have changed now.
Shamshad: I think if you want to be a model, then you have to be a model 24x7. People think modelling is a pastime, a hobby. But in reality, if you are serious about modelling as a career, then you have to be a full-time model. It is a career, a profession by itself.
Divya: Yes, I know people who shoot everyday. And there are models who keep shuttling between so many cities...
Shamshad: And there are so many avenues — print, commercials, hoardings, ramp, and if you are confident enough, you can get into compering and anchoring shows too. Of all, I love ramp shows, my aim is to participate in the Lakme India Fashion Week. But for that, I will have to move to Mumbai. Let's see after we return from China. Maybe, we'll bring the crown and that will make things easier for us. What are your goals for the present?
Divya: Actually, I don't plan things. But I make the best of opportunities that come my way. There's a certain energy about this profession — the mad pace, the quick make-up, etc. That keeps me going. I will bow out when I'm still at the top. One should make an exit before one is kicked out, particularly in this profession. So coming back to China, I feel we're going to have a blast.
Shamshad: Yes, with our talent we should come up trumps.
Divya: We have good experience and a fair amount of patience that's needed at such pageants. What's more, we even communicate effectively. Which is an advantage. (Keeping her fingers crossed)
Shamshad: In reality, modelling is so taxing. People think success comes easy.
Divya: Remember some of the jewellery shows we have done. Imagine having to change earrings of different sizes in quick succession. It hurts so badly.
Shamshad: Once, my ears even started bleeding. It was so painful. But you never realise it during the show frenzy.
Divya: Okay, what do you think of exploitation?
Shamshad: It's there in every profession. But when it comes to showbiz, people talk about it more openly.
Divya: I feel, there's no exploitation within our field. It's only the outsiders who think that models come easy because they wear sexy clothes and walk the ramp. In fact, we get to learn life faster. Because we are on our own, and we travel a lot. Life teaches us so many lessons. But I often tell junior or wannabe models to at least complete their graduation before they take to the profession. Then there's something to fall back on.
Printer friendly
page
Send this article to Friends by
E-Mail
Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Hyderabad
|
