Aryan 's Chat Transcript

What it means to be 'Mr International'

A chat withAryan Vaid, Grasim Mr International 2000.
Chat conducted on Saturday, October 21, 2000, between 1700 hours and 1800 hours IST.

Sanyukta: Tell us honestly did you expect to win?
Aryan Vaid: No I can't say that I expected to win, but I expected to do well.

Deepti: Aryan, are you very fashion conscious? What is the essence of fashion for you?
Aryan Vaid: I won't say I'm fashion conscious, but I am conscious of my appearance. I think fashion should be an extension of who you are and what you aspire to be, rather than what others want you to be.

Sanyukta: If I tell you that you were not such a great choice for the title, what would your answer be?
Aryan Vaid: Thank God for that! Or else, somebody else would be sitting here answering such great questions.

Pritha Basu: Now that you have made it big, is life going to change for you?
Aryan Vaid: Yeah hopefully, it'll change for the better and the bigger.

Kshitij: I wanted to get a few tips on developing an attractive or healthy personality? I mean I lack in communicating with females, strange thoughts haunt my mind just before I approach them such as that they might have a better intellect than me or some sentence said by her or any one of them might go over my head, thoughts such as these keep me away from approaching them even if they are my friends, I hope you understand my problem. I would be really grateful to you if you could provide me with the required information.
Aryan Vaid: I make no claims to being an agony aunt, but even after the title women don't want to talk to me. So there's no hope for you.

Rupa Sanyal : What kind of women do you like?
Aryan Vaid: All kinds as long as they are rich, single and attractive.

Sonika: Like Indian beauties are deliberately being awarded titles in international pageants to enter the Indian beauty market, can the same be said for men.
Aryan Vaid: Well Sonika, why do you believe that the standards in the world are going down, rather than the Indian women coming up to international standards. I think each one of them deserve to be the title holders.

Pritha Basu: Have you been approach for any other film than Heartbeat?
Aryan Vaid: Yes, I'm doing a film called System.

Bhavna: May I ask you your age?
Aryan Vaid: Bhawna, may I ask you yours, first.

Sanjay Khan: How important is to have a good body to get into these contests? Did you train a lot before this?
Aryan Vaid: Its an asset to have a good physique.

Sandhya Chug: Do you still maintain your passion for cooking? What are your favourite dishes to cook?
Aryan Vaid: I maintain my passion for eating. As far as cooking goes, people asked me to stop doing that a long time.

Bobby Nair: Do you think dark/black men stand a chance in these Mr International contests? Isn't the world in general biased against dark skin.
Aryan Vaid: Yes, of course. The concept of beauty is definitely expanding. And people at least at the international pageants are not biased towards colour..

Anurag: hi Aryan,with the good looks you have, how do you feel about it, when people like you even before you say a word, because of your looks...I envy you Aryan, but feel happy about your achievements at the same time, wish me luck!!! I need it these days for my career.
Aryan Vaid: People only like me before I say a word. After I say something, they love me.

Rupa Sanyal: Who are the people you look up to?
Aryan Vaid: Definitely people taller than me.

Arjun: Aryan what is your ideal Indian woman like? What qualities would you look for in your life partner?
Aryan Vaid: I'm not going to be bound by geographical boundaries when it comes to choosing a woman. I look for a good looking, sometimes understanding, mostly sincere kind of woman. If you know anybody, ask them to log on.

Alex Davis: Did you really mean what you said about wanting to spend a day with Bill Clinton, don't you think he is a despicable man for having lied under oath.
Aryan Vaid: Well I did say that I'm not advocating his lifestyle, but yes I would like to spend a day with him. I prefer to somehow look at the positive side of every man.

Zahoor: Can we expect the men's competitions to become as big as the Miss World and Miss Universe pageants? Why do you think those are making more waves at the moment?
Aryan Vaid: Sure men's pageants have a future. The women's pageants have been around for sometime. And women need to start to appreciating men in briefs

Anushaya : There are so many people who scoff at beauty pageants for women, there must be even more derision for men's pageants? Have you faced adverse reaction from people?
Aryan Vaid: Yes, unfortunately it takes all kinds to make this world. I think most of the criticism has been unfair since these pageants provide an excellent platform to achieve growth and when they say beauty with a purpose they mean it.

Anirdum Pathak: Aryan, do you think only the privileged lot reach these contests? Can an ordinary Joe make it this big?
Aryan Vaid: Yes, but not till you keep on thinking you are an ordinary Joe.

Ambika Dagar: What really makes a person attractive. You must admit that looks play an important role, but then doesn't that sometimes mask the person within?
Aryan Vaid: I think what is beautiful may or may not be good, but what is good is eventually always beautiful.

Samar Halarnkar: Nearly all the judges at the Mr International show were Indian. I do not mean to belittle your crowning, but surely that had something to do with it?? And were not those who could not speak English at a disadvantage, especially given the bad quality of the interpreters?
Aryan Vaid: With due respect I had no say in the panel of judges or the interpreters. But on a personal level, I'd like to believe that my best was good enough that night. And on the poor quality of interpreters I can't give an opinion. They functioned very well during the prejudging in the morning, but I think they got unnerved as well, on seeing the huge crowd.

Pritha Basu: How much are these contests about looks and how much about intelligence?
Aryan Vaid: Well I think they try to strike a balance between the two. Not that I'm a combination of the two, but I got lucky that night.

Alok Gupta: Do you think this fame is easy to manage? Will you remain a normal person after this?
Aryan Vaid: Well, fame is a lot easier to manage if that is what you really want. But as far as leading a normal life is concerned, it is a constant process of introspection. Because sometimes it is easy to get carried away with the attention.

Srividya: How are such pageants made helpful and useful to the economy of the country and the lot of the deprived?
Aryan Vaid: They do not help in directly boosting the economy, but the responsibilities the title carries with it ensure that every title holder contributes in his own capacity to a better society.

Kalidas: Don't you think these beauty and looks contests are a big fraud, just a promotional gimmick by the companies who sponsor them and by the other companies who need a face to sell their products.
Aryan Vaid: Well, its a relative opinion. They are an exercise in publicity, but do you thik Aishwarya donating her eyes and Yukta Mukhi donating her organs is just an exercise in publicity. They are living up to the responsibilities of role models.

Sonika: What do you do to keep fit, any special tips for aspiring models?
Aryan Vaid: I just follow a sensible exercise and a diet program. I'm my self not in a position to be giving out advice, but I can only say what worked for me was focus and a bit of luck

Pamela: Do nationalities matter, I am a black American.
Aryan Vaid: Nationalities only matter to the extent of pride that you feel in belonging to a nation.

Mausumi: Are you Indian?
Aryan Vaid: No, I am an alien who chose to come to India and suddenly became Mr India. So you know you can never see me.

Aryan Vaid: Thanks very much guys for bearing up with me. Lots of luck and best wishes.