Nandini's tryst with modelling began with a show for Salomi Roy Kapoor. "I was so nervous that all I did was look at my shoes." While others looked at her. "It was after that ramp show that I got my first campaign for Binny's." And that started an avalanche of work -- for 20 years, Nandini's face dominated the glamour world. And to date, people talk of her energy on the ramp. When Nandini walked down the catwalk, crowds cheered. In 1993, though she decided to call it a day.

Not that retirement has meant time to sit and stare. "About a year ago, my friend Rhea Pillai-Dutt persudaded me to do the Art ofLiving course. Both of us have been meditating for years." And she was so inspired that now she is a firm advocate of the course and even takes classes. "I teach three courses a month." And as if that was not enough, she also takes a body toning class every day. "I first went as a student but now I take a class at Kemp's Corner. I have been teaching for two years." So between one class or another, Nandini's diary is almost as choc-a-bloc as when she was a model.

-- Sujata Assomull