TURNING HEADS

As a bunch of leggy models enter the premises of the Inter National Institute of Fashion Design...

Ones a former supermodel who battled domestic violence and has pieced her life together as a successful single mom. The other is a beauty queen who braved her worst fears to emerge a winner while the third has gracefully balanced modelling,family and now Bollywood!JAGMEETA THIND JOY plucks out three uncommon stories from the world of high fashion

Alesia Raut
As a bunch of leggy models enter the premises of the Inter National Institute of Fashion Design (INIFD),a day prior to their much-awaited annual show,its hard to take your eyes off the one dressed in red. While shes arguably taller than the rest,Alesia Raut is a one-time supermodel currently piecing together her life after ending an abusive relationship. Its like starting all over again, the 27-year-old admits and theres a tinge of regret when she says that. Hers was a fairy tale romance,love at first sight with a man her family knew since they were kids. Since my mom is Russian,she was thrilled to know of my choice, says the model who is of Indo-Russian lineage – her father is an Indian married to a Russian. Modelling came easy and given her looks its easy to understand why. But just as I was about to ride success in my career,I met my Russian husband and chose to leave it all for marriage, shares Raut who comes to Chandigarh to walk the ramp for the INIFD show. A few months into the marriage and Raut,who had shifted to Moscow,had to deal with domestic violence,an abusive husband and complete alienation from her family. I thought a baby would make it all fine, shares the model who was blessed with a son. Things just got worse thereon. I had to deal with stringent Russian laws that wouldnt let me bring my son to India. I appealed to the Indian Embassy and they really helped me pull through, Alesia informs. Once back on home grounds,Raut chose to spoke about her violent marriage. Despite being a known face,I chose to come out in the open, says the model who worked hard,balanced motherhood and started afresh. Today,I have kept the past behind me. Mark,my son,is two and a half years old and a complete delight, she smiles fondly. After hosting a travel show with Star One and starring in a couple of music videos,Raut is also back on the ramp with a vengeance. When it comes to being happy and successful,everything is in your owns hands. I got back to my first love – fitness and dance and of course modelling, we hear Raut say who is hoping to sign up for a dance reality show sometime in the future.

Nethra Raghuraman
Cliches are meant to be broken. In the world of high fashion,where models are expected to be tall,fair and dry,Nethra Raghuraman breaks two rules. Shes dusky and has an edgy sense of humour thats hard to find (that explains her marriage to comedian Ash Chandler!). Further,shes bust the myth that models are sissies. The winner of the extremely popular reality show Fear Factor: Khatron Ke Khiladi,shes jumped from high-rise buildings,battled creepy-crawlies and emerged a winner. Perhaps that is why shes failed to find an intelligent Bollywood film to star in. The eternal attempt in Bollywood continues, she chuckles out loud. Another no-no,Nethra! I have bad PR skills, she blurts. So how has life changed after the show? It hasnt changed. Its right where it was, says Nethra who will walk for INIFD at their July 20 show. No,she wasnt exactly flooded with offers,says the model who dabbles in acting as well. In a way Im glad. As far as Bollywood goes I am still hunting for a good script to come my way. The sad part is that big money is being pumped into bad films, she speaks her mind once again. So while she waits for her chance,the Mumbai-ite is walking the ramp for all the fashion weeks as well as hosting live events. The latter is something shes enjoying even more. Its a new dimension to my work and I am making the most of it, says this Art of Living follower.

Aditi Govitrikar
In the modelling industry,if there ever was a book on how to balance work,family and success,Aditi Govitrikars story would be the opening chapter. For as long as one can remember,this light-eyed beauty has been walking the ramp and looking the same as she did more than a decade back. I just work hard and sincerely at whatever I do, the soft-spoken Aditi tells us. An MBBS by profession,Govitrikar is a model,doctor,mum and now an actor all rolled into one. Acting in films has been a step forward, mentions the model who will be seen director Priyadarshans soon to be released film titled De Dhana Dhan. I have been cast as Paresh Rawals second wife,who is more of a trophy wife, tells Aditi who is a big fan of the director. Hes a pro at churning out realistic and situational comedy, remarks the model who is also working on an untitled production. Then there are the fashion weeks and the INIFD show. Where and how does she find the time? Its tightrope walk but I have my priorities set, smiles Govitrikar who likes to plan her steps each day. That could be her winning mantra!

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