Talk the walk

It isn8217;t often that we read Tupur Chatterjee8217;s name separated from her sister Tapur. But during the just concluded India Couture Week, Tupur tells us that it was a conscious decision on their part to not do the same shows. 8220;Once in a way, it is nice to see us separately.

The runway sets the pulse racing for the older of the tantalising model twins

It isn8217;t often that we read Tupur Chatterjee8217;s name separated from her sister Tapur. But during the just concluded India Couture Week, Tupur tells us that it was a conscious decision on their part to not do the same shows. 8220;Once in a way, it is nice to see us separately. Only then probably people see the difference between us,8221; she says, as the make-up artiste does a good job of making her eyes look dramatic for Pallavi Jaikishan8217;s show. But do people confuse between the two? 8220;All the time. But now we are used to it. If you spend a couple of days with us, you will know the difference in our facial structure and also our personalities,8221; she says, as she enters the green room.

The backstage seems to be the centre of all activity right now with make-up artistes and hairstylists getting their act right, caterers serving some diet food, event organisers running helter-skelter to get the stage ready, choreographers doling out instructions, models dabbing on some rouge and gloss and an in-house photographer capturing these moments. Tupur, who is older by 12 minutes, feels the backstage is a quintessential part of their life because it is here that they spend most of their time dressing up, making friends, practicing their walk and, sometimes, thinking of innovative ways of killing time. Other models, who are doing similar stuff, hover around graciously as Tupur fields simple questions. 8220;In our profession, the waiting period is the biggest drawback. Models make it to the venue at least seven hours in advance. If we could cut down on the waiting period, we would look so much fresher,8221; she says sipping on water.

In spite of being in the profession for eight years, her enthusiasm is still in place. Even today she looks excited about wearing yet another designer ensemble and sauntering down the ramp. 8220;I get very excited but I am never nervous of walking the ramp. If the ramp is slippery or has paper bits, it does get a little scary,8221; says the 28-year-old, while practicing her sequence of steps. And with the couture week being more elaborate in terms of settings, choreography and clothes, the anxiety becomes two-fold.

The sisters have had a firm finger on the fashion pulse of the city. But Tupur, a graduate in Biology, feels that the industry has grown massively over the last couple of years. 8220;Today there are more international designs in the market. There is a Western feel to Indian wear,8221; she says as she points to the outfit she wears. 8220;Also the fashion shows are more organised now, unlike earlier when you did not know what was happening.8221;

But for this granddaughter of Hrishikesh Mukherjee, one of the most revered filmmakers of the industry, Bollywood is still a distant calling. 8220;It is those two minutes on the ramp that make me feel like a queen. Also, most of your dreams of wearing the best clothes available in the country get fulfilled.8221; No wonder then, that between shouts of 8216;Hurry Up8217; and 8216;Find the damn hair pin8217; in the green room, Tupur manages to hold on to her nerve.