'Marriage doesn't affect a model's career'

Diandra Soares on Indian models, her role in Madhur Bhandarkar's Fashion and wardrobe malfunctions, interviewed by Rachana Dubey.

Okay, so when did you get that instinct to model?
I didn’t choose modelling, it chose me.

What’s the role of modelling agencies today?
They’re mushrooming. A decade ago, models would be running around to get things in place. Today, there are thousands of agencies. Models enroll there and become lax. They don’t do much, the agency does every thing for them. But models forget that most of these agencies are new.. inexperienced. They have to be careful while choosing an agency to handle their work.

Why have most Indian models chosen to be on foreign ramps?
Naturally the money is good there. The ramps, the brands are bigger. But I wouldn’t say that all the top models have gone there. Quite a few are still loyal to the Indian ramps.

What continues to make modelling attractive?
The money is better than before. The modelling industry was also a bit backward a decade ago. Parents would have issues with their kids getting into modelling.. not any more. But yes, I have to say that ‘iconic personalities’ from other professions have eaten into our area. Even fashion designers increasingly choose to have socialites and movie heroes and heroines to walk the ramp for their shows. So, models have to face cut-throat competition.

And what about models crossing over to films?
Maybe. I never did though I was approached. I want to be comfortable with what I do. I wasn’t exactly kicked about dancing around the trees and dating aman.

Aren’t you in Madhur Bhandarkar’s Fashion?
Yeah.. it’s just a ramp walk like one normally does. We have to be ourselves in his film since it revolves around the fashion industry.

Any new faces who’re hot on the modelling scene now?
Yeah.. Inder is good.. he’s a little short but that doesn’t affect his charisma on the ramp. Candice Pinto, Pia Trivedi, Laxmi Rana and Asif are really hot.

Have you ever been discriminated for the colour of your skin?
I was Miss Beautiful Skin when I contested for Miss India. But to date, I’ve never done anad commercial for a skin product. Here in India, the belief continues that.. fair is beautiful and dusky is not—it’s just the opposite abroad. My mother hates the tanned look. When I travel for shows and assignments abroad, I’m adored for it.

Would you agree that there’s much ado about malfunctions?
Of course, but do you think malfunctions never happened before Carol’s or Gauhar’s? They did but they were not flashed on television with runs and re-runs. They were not all over the newspapers. There have been worse malfunctions than theirs but they didn’t reach the public eye.

Does marriage affect a model’s career?
No way! Look at Laxmi Rana, she entered modelling after she married. Noyonika Chatterjee, Malaika Arora Khan, Mehr Jessia and Madhu Sapre are still hot.. no matter how frequent or infrequent they are on the ramp.

When do you plan to get married then?
I’d rather leave that to time. Right now, I’m happy with my relationship with DJ Whosane, we’re going steady.