“I don’t fit into the Indian fashion scene that’s obsessed with white skin”

Life has changed for supermodel Lakshmi Menon since the death of photographer Prabuddha Dasgupta, the love of her life.

It was a hard, unseasonably hot and sweaty day in Goa. We were working on the trials for a cover shoot. The lanky, thin model was quietly trying on outfit after outfit along with our team of stylists and fashion editors. I stood by the door of the room (even the fans weren’t working that day), leaving the team to deal with it.

“I don’t fit into the Indian fashion scene that’s obsessed with Bollywood starlets and white skin” (Photo: Italian Marie Claire)

“I am private, not a recluse. I can’t talk to everyone, and I have little patience for people who are not interesting.” (Italian Marie Claire)

“You see, shit happens, but life goes on. I am blessed with good friends, I call them my inner circle, who helped me through my period of uncertainty,” she says between long pauses and forlorn gazes at the artworks and photographs on the walls, before quickly turning around and smiling into your eyes.

“I care two hoots about people who call me controversial. My life with Prabuddha was the life I chose, and I continue to live my choices.” (Italian Marie Claire)

In December 2008, in “What’s Hot For 2009”, Lucie Greene of the Daily Mail included Lakshmi as “Hot” and predicted that she would attain supermodel status. She featured in the 2011 Pirelli Calendar, photographed by Karl Lagerfeld, the first Indian model to do so.