Take One

When director Madhur Bhandarkar came to Mugdha Godse with the script of Fashion...

Model-turned-actor Mugdha Godse on life after Fashion

When director Madhur Bhandarkar came to Mugdha Godse with the script of Fashion, the model was unsure about how her character would make an impact, considering the stronger roles for co-actors Priyanka Chopra and Kangana Ranaut. 8220;But that was before I read the script. Once I was through, I knew Janet8217;s character had as much scope to perform. If I did it with honesty, it could get me a little appreciation,8221; says Godse. In the movie, she plays the second-rung model, Janet, married to a gay designer.

It has been a week since the movie released, but the 8220;little appreciation8221; that Godse had hoped for, has snowballed into generous accolades. 8220;There8217;s been a steady stream of congratulatory messages and phonecalls. Priyanka texted 8216;Babe, you blew my mind!8217; at three in the morning, and I was totally floored. The one person who is vindicated is Madhur sir. Everytime he told me I had it in me to make it as an actor, I would tell him not to speculate. Now, with each review that I have received, he has been telling me 8216;I told you so8217;,8221; she giggles.

For Godse, the most touching praise has come from her family. 8220;My family is quite critical of me, so I was apprehensive of their reaction. They went for first-day-first-show, when I was still promoting the film in Dubai. My sister later told me they were left speechless by my performance,8221; she says.

There have been quite a few offers since the movie released, but the model-turned-actor says she will only announce them once she signs on the dotted line. 8220;As of now, I have signed with Percept Picture Company for three of their films,8221; she says. Modelling, she says, will definitely be on the backburner for the time being. 8220;Fashion8217;s given me opportunities which I would be stupid to ignore. It8217;s not as if I am giving up modelling completely, but I8217;ll do only select shows,8221; she says.

Paromita Chakrabarti

Paromita Chakrabarti is Senior Associate Editor at the The Indian Express. She is a key member of the National Editorial and Opinion desk and writes on books and literature, gender discourse, workplace policies and contemporary socio-cultural trends. Professional Profile With a career spanning over 20 years, her work is characterized by a "deep culture" approach—examining how literature, gender, and social policy intersect with contemporary life. Specialization: Books and publishing, gender discourse (specifically workplace dynamics), and modern socio-cultural trends. Editorial Role: She curates the literary coverage for the paper, overseeing reviews, author profiles, and long-form features on global literary awards. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent writing highlights a blend of literary expertise and sharp social commentary: 1. Literary Coverage & Nobel/Booker Awards "2025 Nobel Prize in Literature | Hungarian master of apocalypse" (Oct 10, 2025): An in-depth analysis of László Krasznahorkai’s win, exploring his themes of despair and grace. "Everything you need to know about the Booker Prize 2025" (Nov 10, 2025): A comprehensive guide to the history and top contenders of the year. "Katie Kitamura's Audition turns life into a stage" (Nov 8, 2025): A review of the novel’s exploration of self-recognition and performance. 2. Gender & Workplace Policy "Karnataka’s menstrual leave policy: The problem isn’t periods. It’s that workplaces are built for men" (Oct 13, 2025): A viral opinion piece arguing that modern workplace patterns are calibrated to male biology, making women's rights feel like "concessions." "Best of Both Sides: For women’s cricket, it’s 1978, not 1983" (Nov 7, 2025): A piece on how the yardstick of men's cricket cannot accurately measure the revolution in the women's game. 3. Social Trends & Childhood Crisis "The kids are not alright: An unprecedented crisis is brewing in schools and homes" (Nov 23, 2025): Writing as the Opinions Editor, she analyzed how rising competition and digital overload are overwhelming children. 4. Author Interviews & Profiles "Fame is another kind of loneliness: Kiran Desai on her Booker-shortlisted novel" (Sept 23, 2025): An interview regarding The Loneliness of Sonia and Sunny. "Once you’ve had a rocky and unsafe childhood, you can’t trust safety: Arundhati Roy" (Aug 30, 2025): A profile on Roy’s recent reflections on personal and political violence. Signature Beats Gender Lens: She frequently critiques the "borrowed terms" on which women navigate pregnancy, menstruation, and caregiving in the corporate world. Book Reviews: Her reviews often draw parallels between literature and other media, such as comparing Richard Osman’s The Impossible Fortune to the series Only Murders in the Building (Oct 25, 2025). ... Read More