Two steps behind... | While Hyderabadi guys are making it big on the modelling circuit, it's a matter of time when girls will hit the bull's eye. SYEDA FARIDA reports |
Zainab Sayyed ZAINAB SAYYED is
apna model whose face flashes on national television exhorting us to buy Borosoft and Relaxo. Farhad Shahnawaz and Sarwar Ahuja have made it to Gladrags and Bollywood respectively and subsequently shifted base to Mumbai. While the twin cities have catapulted beauty queens on the world map, there are fewer girls when compared to their male counterparts on the regular modelling circuit here. "There is a dearth of models here. While you would have 20 models in the top rung and also a second level of models in Mumbai to select from, the same is not possible here," says event manager Bunty Bajaj.
Farhad Shahnawaz Blame it on several factors. Topping it is the attitude that revolves around a fashion show where catcalls seem to accompany the models as they walk the ramp. Fashion shows, incidentally, have become a scarce commodity these days. "Owing to high budgets involved in staging a regular fashion show, designers opt for pubs as venues. Girls are not comfortable with crowd acting inappropriately in these places. And parents would not want their precious girls to participate in such shows. Probably if corporate houses sponsor designers, fashion shows can be held professionally in apt venues and the scope for modelling will increase," says designer Kedar.
Laidback attitude "Teenagers are interested in modelling. But they don't want to work hard. A few girls came to me for grooming and ramp training but were not regular. They were lazy. On the contrary, I see a lot of men who are interested in their looks," says Zainab. As far as being conservative goes, Zainab says, "I see many wearing short skirts in a party who do not thinks it is a big deal. Sharon, another model, feels it is all about attitude as she says, "Youngsters do not look at modelling as means to earn that extra buck. In Mumbai, many take up modelling as a part-time job. Out here, the younger lot does not stepinto the fray." A modelling school or workshop with choreographers, photographers and agencies would help, say the pros. Model-turned-entrepreneur Praveen Agarwal says, "There is not much scope for modelling in the twin cities per se since the decision-making happens in corporate offices in Mumbai, Chennai or Bangalore that again opt for agencies from the same city. There is a great potential here. What could probably help would be an agency or coordinator who can take them on the national circuit."
Praveen Agarwal Bunty points out that Hyderabadi girls are "as pretty as their counterparts in Mumbai or Delhi". She feels that it is just a question of "how to go about it".While some in the fraternity feel model Tamanna's untimely passing away has increased the uncertainty towards the profession, there are others like Sachin, noted hairstylist and make-up professional, who beg to differ."I don't see Tamanna's demise discouraging girls from taking to modelling," he says. "For instance, Divya Bharati's death did not stop girls from joining films. In Hyderabad, girls are cocooned. Parents can accompany girls on shoots. The girls should be level headed and firm enough to say no to the seedy types.."
Sharon The answer, girls, is blowing in the mind - a professional mindset, a willingness to slog it out and a firmness to deal with the unwanted elements is all it takes to make a splash on the fashion firmament - look where
mana Diana Hayden is now!
Sarwar Ahuja
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