A MODEL'S ART OF LIVING
Asmita Aggarwal (HT City)

Her first ad campaign was in 1973 for the clothes company Binny’s, after she was spotted by choreographer Saloni Roy Kapur in Mumbai’s Alibagh. “I was only 16 then and in school. It was the future that modelling promised which I found exciting,” remembers Nandini Sen, who was also the Lakme face from ’74-’77 and did several print campaigns for Yves Saint Laurent.

The ’70s were the times when models had no hairdressers, make-up artists or designers whose collection they could showcase on the ramp. “Now, it’s more professional. There are dedicated fashion photographers, the technology is much more advanced and of course, the exposure is greater,” says the mother of a 14-year-old daughter, Tasha and a 25-year-old-son, Sahil.

Remembering her modelling years, she says the best part of her career was travelling. She did several shows in Germany, Japan, Dubai and Singapore.

Now, she is a staunch believer in the Art Of Living philosophy (she was introduced to it in ’98). “It taught me the biggest lesson in life – to connect inner beauty with the outer one. Art Of living is based on the correct breathing technique which helps to de-stress,” says Sen. “In this make-belief world, it’s one thing that stands solid and untouched. It has the ability to transport you to a serene, calm state of mind which is what all of us desire today.”

Now, it’s her daughter who is flooded with offers to model. Says the protective mom, “I don’t want to stop her and all this talk about the modelling world being vicious is rubbish. It all depends on how an individual conducts oneself. If Tasha wants to try her hand at modelling, I will be the first one to encourage her like my mom did 30 years back.” That’s Nandini Sen for you.