How was it becoming the first runners-up in Sananda Tillotama?

Becoming first runners-up in Sananda Tilottama was indeed a very unforgettable moment of my life. I was being admired for what I was and my hard work and dedication was being appreciated. The crown was like a token of appreciation and acknowledgment. I still get the chills when I think about the events of that night. Other than excitement, it has become a big source of encouragement to do so many things in my life later on.

You were so close to becoming the winner. Do you regret that you just missed the title?

Regret is not the right word actually. You know I was awarded with six subtitles out of 10 or 11 categories, which for me was equal to winning the title itself. I gave it my best shot. I was standing on the stage with eight others, knowing that only one would be the winner and only three would walk away with crowns.

I showcased the best of me. I competed with myself, and I won. For me, each of the three crowns is the same. So, no, I don’t regret anything. I gave in my 100 per cent and I am willing to do that in all my future endeavours.

How have your friends and family members reacted to your new title?

I am a celebrity at home. My family has always been my pillar, my support and winning the crown was my way of saying “thank you” to my mother especially. She has always believed in me. And my sister, who is younger to me, helped prepare for the question-answer round and refined my approach towards it. My father was not in Calcutta during the event, but the news sure made him proud. Last but not the least, it’s because of my friends that I won the Max Fashion Icon title. They voted in the hundreds and that earned me that title. They are just brilliant people and I thank God that I know them and that they are MY friends!

You are a mechanical engineer by profession. What prompted you to take part in the contest?

I see myself in a multi-dimensional career. I want to utilise all that I have learnt so far in my professional life, be it performing arts, fine arts, sports or academics. Modelling and fashion is a career with an age limit, and I think this is the right time for it. Also, I am aware that along with hard work, luck too plays a major role in it. My BTech degree is a result of my pragmatic approach to life. It gives me analytical thinking, a wider aspect towards it. So, taking part in this contest was like giving me the edge to enter into the glamour industry and a head start towards a wholesome career.

Did you always dream of becoming a model? What does this title mean for you?

From childhood performing arts such as dance, classical Odissi, drama and sports have been my passion. I think modelling and fashion become a natural extension of my passion. I think it is not just a question of only modelling, it is a matter of personality, physical fitness and knowledge that go into making a successful model. And as far as the title is concerned, it means a lot me. The six subtitles I own matter most to me. All these put together have been a challenge especially many of my competitors were so good, that I put my best in all aspect of the competition. Ideally this title will add lot of encouragement and motivation in my pursuit. I would like to see myself more and more in these kinds of pageants at various levels.

How was it like getting selected, being on stage and facing the crowd and celebrities?

First, knowing that I was selected for the auditions was unbelievable. Then getting through every other round just boosted my confidence. These were unknown waters for me and I plunged in like an empty vessel, so that I can gather maximum knowledge and use every opportunity thrown at me. Meeting and interacting with the best in the industry was like icing on the cake. Their experiences, their take on this industry and their dos and don’ts has prepared me well enough to be able to handle unexpected situations. And for the stage, cameras and those eyes on me, I felt surreal. For every head that I turned, and every camera that captured me, I knew I was getting somewhere, a step closer to making my existence known.

What are your plans now?

My immediate plans are of completing my bachelor’s degree and preparing well for the upcoming management exams. I am also undertaking calls for shoots as and when possible. I am keeping my eyes open for any opportunity in modelling and fashion.

Tell us about you upbringing — schooling, college and life before the contest?

I was born in Bhubaneswar and brought up in Calcutta. I was schooled at G. D. Birla Centre for Education. I was always a good student, and secured respectable grades in my exams. So, pursuing extra-curricular was a bonus. I started dancing at a very young age, and I acquired my training under Guru Sharmila Biswas. Horse riding has always been my favourite sport, which I have been engaged to since I was six. My parents always believed in overall development, and paid attention to our other interests.

When I joined KIIT for my BTech degree, I saw how my interest in dance helped me surface. I took part in various events in and out of college, inter-university, some national fests too. In college I also developed a keen interest towards dramatics. A senior introduced me into it in my second year and since then dramatics has been an inseparable part of my life. Winning best actor award and taking part in drama fest got me wanting to do theatre and acting more. Owing to all this, I was always very active in college. Also travelling with my group for outside college events satisfied my interest of visiting new places.

Many models come and fade away. How do you intend to make a mark?

In my opinion, success is a phenomenon, which has many constituents. To make a mark in any profession, including modelling and fashion, one needs to understand the finer points and critical aspect of the job. I wish to have a very professional approach towards my career as a model n fashion enthusiast with lot of patience n hard work. I believe honesty, dedication and hard work always pay off. So I will pursue these ideals to make the syndrome of fading away redundant. Wish me luck!

Do you want to enter the modelling industry or is it the film industry that you are eyeing considering that you are a trained dancer and love acting?

Given the right opportunity and time I would want to pursue my career in both the modelling or film industry. Nowadays, fashion and modelling can give successful career to aspiring youth and I would love to have a career that I will also enjoy the most. As you know, it is really tough to get a good opening, which also requires a bit of luck in addition to talent and hard work. I am looking forward to good opportunities coming my way.

What are your hobbies?

I have a number of hobbies and interests, which I pursue seriously. Odissi and horse-riding have been my hobbies since childhood, but with age, I developed other interests such as dramatics, painting and swimming. I got inclined towards western classical dance forms in college and have recently started taking jazz classes. I love travelling. Also books and novels interest me. These hobbies are directly and indirectly connected towards building my personality and giving me platform to showcase my talent.