You are my theme for a dream… the dream of walking out a winner. Three girls saw their dreams come true at Max Sananda Tilottama 2016 at The Lalit Great Eastern on Saturday night. t2 witnessed their journey as they walked the walk and talked the talk. Snapshots from the starry evening. 

Winning shots

Kiran Uttam Ghosh: Where do you see yourself five years from now?
Mouli: I would like to see myself as a woman who has chosen her life, never settled for it. She has chosen whatever she wanted. She has chosen whatever she dreamt of. She dared to dream her dreams her own way. 

Parambrata Chattopadhyay: What is the silly or awkward part of what you are doing right now?

Damayanti: I still have a long way to go in modelling, so I would like to talk about studies.... It would be lovely if there weren’t any exams!

Kiran: Can you please spell Parambrata’s first name?! 
Swarnali: Parambrata… tra… 
Mir: Pooja Batra?!
Kiran: Take a deep breath… 
Mir: Nishashta gobhirey nao aar banan koro...
Parambrata: Gobhirey jao… 
Swarnali: Parambrta… brta… tra… Parambrata… tta… 
Parambrata: Decide! 
Swarnali: tta! Brata… 
Parambrata: Sure? Now toss like Sholay! Brata, right?
Swarnali: Tta! 
Mir: That’s a very titillating spelling of your name!
Swarnali: It’s a very difficult question....
Kiran: That was my question. You have to be prepared for everything in life.

FIRST RUNNER-UP: SWARNALI BOSE

Age: 20
From: Howrah
Studied: Bengali hons. from Asutosh College 

Favourite food: Phuchka and biryani, which I haven’t had in the last 24 days. 
Winner speak: I am not skinny and I love eating. I want to be an actress. I am into theatre. My parents wanted to come but I thought I would get nervous and I might not win because I am not skinny and I think that is the first criterion to be a model. 

On her mentor: I learnt so much about the technical aspects of modelling from Nayanika ma’am, but that I can win a modelling hunt is a huge surprise. 
Favourite actors: Suchitra Sen, Deepika Padukone and Kajol. 

WINNER: MOULI HALDAR

Age: 18
From: Chinsurah
Studying: English hons. at Bidhan Chandra College, Rishra
Winner speak: I belong to a conservative family. Wearing short dresses or even skinny jeans is a no-no. I was stumbling till yesterday, but today I knew I was my best. I didn’t tell my parents that I was auditioning for Sananda Tilottama. They said nothing would come out of it. That egged me on. I told my mother, if not me, who? If not now, when? I travelled from Chinsurah every day... six hours. I feel that I am on the right track. I saw myself wearing this crown every night. When I went home and showed my parents this crown, they were so happy! 

On her mentor: I goofed up in the rehearsals but Nayanika ma’am guided me. 
Favourite models: Lakshmi Menon and Irina Shayk.

SECOND RUNNER-UP: DAMAYANTI GIRI

Age: 18
From: Dunlop
Studying: Journalism and mass communication in Asutosh College 
Winner speak: I feel the difference in me. I have gained in confidence. I would dream of being a part of this world but didn’t think it would come true so soon. My mother has been a huge support. 
On her mentor: Getting groomed by Nayanika ma’am is a lifetime’s achievement. Her ramp tips... how much I should smile, how much I should tilt my head...
Favourite model: Gigi Hadid. 

SUB-CONTESTS WINNERS

Miss Beautiful Hair: Ria Biswas
Miss Radiant Skin: Anushka Laha
Miss Beautiful Smile: Arpita Ghosh
Miss Beautiful Teeth: Subhashree Kar
Miss Beautiful Eyes: Tulip Dutta
Miss Perfect Catwalk: Riya Bhattacherjee
Miss Beautiful Face: Mrittika Maitra
Miss Fit: Subhashree Kar
Miss Confident: Mouli Haldar
Miss Talented: Arpita Ghosh
Miss Silky Smooth Legs: Damayanti Giri & Swarnali Bose
Swimwear round winner: Riya Bhattacherjee (the costumes were by La Lingerie)
Miss Photogenic: Mouli Haldar
Miss Congeniality: Arpita Ghosh
Max Fashion Icon: Riya Bhattacherjee
Max Popular Choice: Anushka Laha

TOP TIPS FROM THE FINALE JUDGES

Kiran Uttam Ghosh, fashion designer: As these young aspirants enter the glamour world, I echo the best advice I came across… it’s kept me grounded in this crazy amazing fashion world: ‘When you walk, look in five directions: Look straight because you have to look forward. Look back because you must remember where you’re coming from. Look to the sides to see who are the people that are going to be next to you if you need them. Look down to make sure you don’t step on anyone. And look up because you have to remember that someone protects us.’

Indrani Dasgupta, supermodel: It is a tough world. Survival of the fittest. If you are cut out for it, you will find out soon enough. As a model, what stands out for one is if you are unique. If you tend to do what someone else is doing, then you tend to get lost. It’s about finding yourself and making that work for you. It takes tenacity, hard work and a little bit of luck. At the end of the day, stay true to who you are and in a job where you have hundreds coming in every day, it’s really who you are that will shine through, get you noticed and go that extra distance.

Parambrata Chattopadhyay, actor: Persevere. Be passionate.

Clint Fernandes, make-up pro: You should not look like a mess. It’s all about the appearance and that makes a very big difference to your client who you are meeting for the first time. Apply sunscreen. Take care of elbows and knees. You need make-up and hair, but you don’t need so much also. Basic grooming of hair is also important. 

LOL: When Damayanti Giri got Parambrata Chattopadhyay’s surname wrong...

Mir: Bhattacharya? Kobey? Kobey holo?! Kobey biye korley?!
Parambrata: Goto porshu! 

Text: Saionee Chakraborty
Pictures: Rashbehari Das