Before moving to Mumbai in 1996, fashion and runway was a big part of my life in the 90s. I think that was the best time to be a model. There were only a handful of models back then and fashion shows were very few, so between Delhi and Mumbai, whenever there would be anything that required models, most female models were flown from Mumbai and I think among male models I was the one who would frequently fly to Mumbai for shoots. The 90s was a glorious time for male models I think. The kind of personal attention that we used to get…I don’t think male models get that now. Models were no less than movie stars back then, especially male models as there were only a few. Unlike today, when we have model coordinators, designers would be directly in touch with models and would decide who would walk for their show. In most of the shows back then, there were one or two male models, JJ Valaya and Rohit Bal’s shows were an exception as they would have around seven-eight male models.
Also, 90s was the time when this lean look for models became the it thing. Before that, I remember models used to be beefy, but in our times lean was in and we were told to be easy on the ramp. That was the time when designers would think of different looks, I had to grow and chop my hair a few times as per demand for show/shoot and I remember one show (I think it was Gudda’s) when my hair were painted silver and was quite trendsetting look back then.
After-parties used to be big and the one of the most popular nightclubs here then was Ghungroo at one of the five star hotels. Then came clubs like Oasis at another five star hotel and it was an exclusive members only club. I could not afford Oasis then and they used to have a black membership card which was given complimentary to me and it made me really happy. I didn’t smoke or drink, but would go to these nightclubs for after parties or events sometimes.
It wasn’t a digital world and for us, having our picture in a newspaper was no less an achievement. I remember the 90s was the time when Delhi Times started covering fashion extensively and they would have elaborate coverage on fashion on weekends. Most shows happened on weekends then. For me, it was a ritual to check the newspaper every morning and would definitely check in on weekends or when we were expecting coverage on any fashion show or party. To have your picture in Delhi Times meant something.
Apart from fashion shows, models used to do a lot of ad commercials. The 90s was the time when big brands were entering the market, more modern products were being launched to suit the fast-changing consumer need and demand back then. My first big break was Raymonds. I was the longest Raymond model ever. I shot for their 5-6 campaigns, it was nice to be called ‘the complete man’- which used to be their tag line. Also, in the 90s India’s first indigenously built SUV by Tata was launched, Tata Sierra, it was a slick machine and I was the face for it.
I miss those times and especially the Delhi of those times, when driving here was a good experience and we never bothered about smog, never discussed AQI.
