You have been in the modelling industry for six years now…

Yes, but there’s still a lot to do. The journey has been a dream come true with things that I had never imagined having happened. It all started during my college days when someone picked me up randomly to go to Paris for a three-year contract and before that to Ecuador. My father was like, “What do you mean you are going to Paris?” I reminded him that I was 18 and was allowed to go to Paris (laughs). My parents were strict and my father refused but got convinced eventually. He was honoured by the Indian government for his doctorate (on agriculture) when I was quite young, so coming from that kind of a family and taking up a completely different profession was quite a trip for me. It was quite like wow, wow! Just like Alice In Wonderland.

What was Paris like?

It was my first time ever to a foreign land (laughs). It was not a very smooth journey for me because I don’t speak the language. Till today I do not speak the language. I didn’t want to speak the language. They were racist. It was difficult to fight with that market. When I came back to India, by god’s grace, it was easy for me in Delhi and then in Mumbai.

The road to modelling…

During school, I used to look at myself in the mirror and say I am not that bad (laughs)! My mom is and was stunning. She is a very good dancer and also did a couple of movies in Assam. She inspired me. I think somewhere deep inside my mom’s head she wanted me to be an actor or a dancer. She put me in a dancing school where I did nothing! I also tried to play tennis. I did everything halfway. My mom would push me to do this and that, but I would like venturing out, trying to think what to do. And then modelling fell on my lap. I wanted to be a pilot. My uncle, my mom’s elder brother, is a wing commander and I remember as a child I was fascinated by it.

What goes through your mind every time you walk the ramp?

I feel nervous every time. Till date, I try to figure out what is the feeling exactly but I don’t know. It is like a trip. You step on the ramp and you walk. It takes me to a different world, so I cannot explain what it is like. It is very nostalgic. It is a mixed feeling, like an adrenaline rush. So many people watch you. It is live. Sometimes you feel wow and sometimes you feel you are in a different space.

Is there anyone who has helped shape your career?

No one has shaped my career except me! I don’t have any godfather in this industry.

What makes a good model?

It has to be in you. You have got to be a nice person first and that comes out on the ramp. It has to be natural. I have been watching senior models over the years. I used to look at Madhu Sapre and think wow. They had that thing in them, they didn’t have to go to a school and groom. So you have to have an X-factor in you and that can be anything — looks, confidence…

What has been your most cherished assignment?

Last year I did a show for Vivienne Westwood. I could not get over it. I remember meeting Lenny Kravitz when I was going for his show. It was a sit-down dinner and I had piled on to someone! These people are so down to earth it is unbelievable.

What’s your dream assignment?

First of all, I want to be big, big, big, big… I want to be known as a good actress rather than for my good looks. Now that I have stepped into the acting world, I want to achieve a lot of things as a good actress. And to balance my career with acting and modelling outside India because I am still an IMG model. I don’t know how I am going to do it!

How did Guzaarish happen?

Sanjay Leela Bhansali saw my picture in the Kingfisher calendar. I think he was following my pictures for the past couple of years.

What was it like working with Hrithik Roshan?

It’s like wow! I have travelled the world and have met a lot of good-looking people in my life. Good looks fade after a while so it is not about good looks. What makes him appealing is that he is a great person. He has been so supportive and has helped me in a lot of things that I could not have dealt with. He is a perfect gentleman.

How do you react to reports of your steamy scenes with Hrithik?

Honestly speaking, I don’t know that I should be answering this. Obviously it was very upsetting. It was shit. A lot of people randomly make stories like that. Someone from the sets gives information to the people outside! If I have said something, then it should be within quotes. I am from a good family. I don’t need to be going out there and doing all these things.

The favourite world of Monikangana

Favourite Indian designer: Sabyasachi Mukherjee

Favourite model: Madhu Sapre

Favourite television show host: Jay Leno

Favourite show destination: Los Angeles

Favourite post-show pastime: Going home straightaway and getting into the shower

Favourite munchies in-between shows: I used to survive on tea and coffee

Friendliest co-model: That’s a very tricky question. Jesse Randhawa

Given a chance to go on a sabbatical, you would go to…
Oh my god! I would go to Bali and explore my spiritual side