Face off

Shyla Lopez? Why does the name and face look familiar?That is because she is in the new Instant Karma video directed by Rachel Reuben. Bu...

Shyla Lopez? Why does the name and face look familiar?
That is because she is in the new Instant Karma video directed by Rachel Reuben. But the Bahon Mein8230;8217; video from the Return of Dance Masti album is hardly Shyla8217;s first break. She has been in the modelling industry for over eight years. In fact, she even won the Miss India World title in 1992.

So, why haven8217;t we seen much of her?
Because she took a two-and-a-half-year break from modelling only to return to the scene last year. quot;I was seeing someone in Singapore and it was very serious so I moved there.quot;

Then why did she come back?
quot;It did not work out so I came back, and decided to focus on my career.quot;Though Shyla is originally a Bangalore girl she did not go home. quot;I did not want to go running home just because things had not worked out.quot;

Did she find it hard to start all over again?
quot;Actually I was lucky my friends and family were there for me. I had kept in touch with people from here, so it was not like I was out of the loop.quot;

On her return Lubna Adams booked her for the World Gold Council Jewellery show. quot;And then I did a lot of ramp work last year.quot; In fact, Shyla has just returned from Dubai where she took part in the Arjun Khanna show.

But she must have been nervous about making a comeback?
quot;Of course, I was. There were so many new faces around I was not sure if I would get work. But I was lucky I got calls as soon as I came back.quot;

And what about the music video? How did that happen?
quot;Rachel Reuben called me and asked me test for it. I was on the way to the Provogue fashion show and I was not too keen to test. But she told me she would give me an instant decision.quot; So Shyla tested and was chosen on the spot.

Has the response to the video taken her by surprise?
quot;Totally. Suddenly people on the street recognise me. And I am having to make celebrity appearances to promote the video. I have even got some movie offers. Though no offer has really appealed to me yet!quot;

But what about advertising work?
As a dusky model she says getting press work is hard. Though before she went to Singapore she did some work for Cinthol Soap.

Sounds like she leads a very glamorous life?
quot;Believe me, there is nothing glamorous about modelling. It is very hard work and living alone is not fun. I really miss my parents. And there is so much competition in this industry. The older girls are insecure about the younger ones and the younger are insecure about the older more experienced ones.quot;

So how did she get into this rat race?
Shyla was working in the PR industry in Bangalore when she entered her pictures into the Miss India contest just for the heck of it. And she ended up being placed second. quot;That year Madhu Sapre won, she was already in the industry and I was the newcomer.quot; Didn8217;t that make her nervous? quot;I gave all the contestants a run for their money and I am still doing that.quot;

What does she like about modelling?
quot;I love ramp work. For that moment you are anyone you want to be. I love the ramp as it gives me my moment of glory.quot;

But you cannot last forever on the ramp. What will she do after that?
quot;I am not sure about what I will do next. No really interesting offers have come my way. Though I have been asked to do some TV anchoring. I love working with people and have studied hotel management. So maybe I8217;ll go back to PR.quot;

No fixed plans, no goals, no future planning?
quot;I made plans once before and they did not work out. So I am not doing that again. But I am sure something will come my way.quot;