Plain Jane

But let8217;s get back to the main theme of this story, and that is the chat we had with Madhu a few days ago.

She resplendent in white plastic curlers, ready to go and walk on some ramp at Akota stadium and us 8211; in a sweaty and somewhat bashful mood.

So, what did we talk about, guess you8217;re dying to know8230;

First there was the usual query about her wanting to join the phillum industry. 8220;I don8217;t think I have the figure to join the industry as a heroine. Everyone in Bollywood have a pre-conceived notion about what a heroine is supposed to look like. I think I am too tall and too skinny to join the industry,8221; she said.

But seriously, does that mean we don8217;t get so see the ammchi mulgi on the silver screen, we asked aghast, 8220; Well, no,8221; she said, 8220;I8217;m looking for a role that will suit me, nothing has come my way that I really want to do, and until that comes along, my acting career stays on hold.8221;

Yeah, in hindsight, it would be pretty difficult to find a hero who8217;s tall enough for her. But, we await the advent of Madhu the actress.

Next query, while we were discussing the topic of movies and such stuff that affects the teenage gonads, 8220;What do you think of the fact that you are considered to be a sex symbol by millions?8221; I asked. In reaction there was some amount of amazement as Madhu answered, 8220;This is the first time someone told me that I am a sex symbol. I always thought I was too thin to be considered a sex symbol.8221;

Wow, she was good looking and modest. No seriously, she really did seem surprised by my question we kid you not. So, either Madhu is one of the true innocents or she doesn8217;t need acting classes to join the heroines of Bollywood.

Well enough talk on Bollywood we thought at this point, biting into a luscious dahi vada. So we turned to other questions, like our next one, which was, 8220;What is your view of the common conception that all models are just clothes horses. They don8217;t need to think much?8221;

8220;Well,8221; she said, 8220;firstly it would be helpful if you divided the types of modelling. There are basically two, ramp modelling and print modelling. The former kind, I agree does not need too much of grey cells while you work, but you need to be extra thoughtful about all of the things that you do outside of walking on the ramp. There are the people you interact with, the types of contracts you sign, the price you ask for. Everything has to be well thought out. If for instance, a model was to demand a fee that was deemed too high, she would be out of a job.8221;

So, does that mean that those people who are thinking of going in for modelling need to know about a few things?

8220;Yes, they need to be able to interact with people, that is of utmost importance. You do not need to be beautiful to become a model. What you need is presence, when you walk into a room, people need to turn around and notice you. You also need to have a good figure so that clothes fall on you gracefully.8221;

What did she think was one important thing for all aspiring models to remember, we asked though we knew the CY gang had no chance of becoming a model.

8220;You have to be professional. Whatever you do as a please model will be reflected or highlighted, so it will affect your career. Be professional and you have a chance to succeed in this career.8221;

But what makes one model stand out from the rest? What is so special about the supermodels for instance?

8220;Well, It would be the way that they handled their career. It is important to take the right decision at the right time. But being a famous model has its downside as well. There have been instances when designers have refused to show their clothes on famous models because they felt the clothes would get overshadowed.8221;

Now with a semblence of caution we approached a question that could open some old wounds, or unravel a few choice expletives. So taking a deep breath and with a swig of some unidentified cola type aerated drink, we asked, 8220;why is it that top models in India don8217;t model in the nude while their western counterparts are less inhibited about shedding their layers?8221;

8220;Well, I think that it8217;s because of the background that we in India come from,8221; she said folks! the next part was brought up by her. Honest!, 8220;for instance I modelled for the Tuff shoes advertisement because I thought it was a nice ad. Had I known the embarassment I would cause my parents I am sure I would not have modelled for the ad. I think it will be sometime till we in India become westernised enough. But even then I think we can never really reach their level of permissiveness. People in India still think in terms of getting married and settling down with a few kids, they don8217;t always give the profession top prority. The prospective husbands don8217;t want their brides-to-be to have modelled in the nude. It is a vicious circle.8221;

Well, I asked, would you model for the Tuff ad if you were living in the west? 8220;Yes8221;, came the answer, 8220;most definitely, I would.8221;

A last parting question as Madhu got ready to board the bus that would take her to the roadshow in Baroda.

What is the length of a model8217;s career, and what does she plan to do after she retired?

8220;Well, nowadays it just depends on how fresh you look. If you continue to look good and maintain your figure, you can model for years and years. I have been in the business for seven years and I feel that I still have quite a few years left in me. As for retirement, I haven8217;t thought much about it, I have invested my money sensibly so I can afford to not work for a couple of years, stay at home and think what I want to do next. Yes, that8217;s what I would want to do.8221; Thus speaking, she left us and our friend the photographer to sit quietly and take in what we had heard and don8217;t forget seen before we came back to office, got screamed at by the boss and sat down with a cup of tea and a packet of chips to key in this interview.