Male Order

The 6’ 1” tall 24-year-old from Panipat worked as a constable in the Haryana Police department for almost five years before shifting base to Delhi for modelling in 2008. Along the way,he downsized from a bulky 92 kilos to 71 kilos,networked at parties and got a portfolio done by photographer Vivek Sharma. “I didn’t know anything when I came to Delhi two years back. A friend introduced me to designer Rohit Bal at a fashion party who hinted I could make a good model. So I decided to give it a try,” he says in broken English. Despite clocking a spring season at the Wills India Lifestyle Fashion Week in 2008,he admits being “nervous”. “I am more confident in editorials and have worked extensively in print. The money is more and it’s a clean job. For the runway,I follow the instructions of the choreographer very carefully,” says Kuhar,who would be walking for designer Varun Bahl,Anjana Bhargava and Shantanu and Nikhil at the Week.

Kuhar is one of the 11 new models who will debut at the men’s fashion week that takes off at the Grand Hotel in Vasant Kunj tomorrow. There’s also Mumbai-based Siddharth Rawal,who has clocked two seasons at the Lakme Fashion Week and is a part-time entrepreneur. Off the runway,the 6’ 3” Narsee Monjee college graduate works at his father’s export firm. “Everyone knows modelling is not a long-term career but for the time being I prefer doing both things together,” said Rawal. The curly-tressed boy,who is a year old in the modelling industry is already a known face — he has featured in over five television commercials,alongside Saif Ali Khan in Lays chips,Tata Docomo,Blackberry mobile and has also shot for the Flying Machine campaign. “ I am confident that I can do well in Delhi also,” says Rawal,already a favourite with Mumbai fashion flock.

Meanwhile,Delhi-based Sulabh Kalra,21,knows how to juggle an MBA degree along with building six pack abs. The six feet model attends classes at IIMT Ghaziabad by the day and takes a shy turn on the runway at night. “I am sharp,score well in college and am confident that I will do equally well at the fashion week also,” says Kalra. Fashion wasn’t that obvious a move for him — while waiting for his graduate results last year,he posted his pictures on ibibo.com for larks and ended up winning a nationwide contest called “Ibibo Hunk”. “It helped me get a Subi Samuel photo shoot and a contract with Elite,along with a two-month grooming session. I consider myself very lucky for that,” says Kalra,who will walk for Rahul Gandhi and Rohit Khanna,Narendra Kumar and Varun Bahl.

Jabalpur boy Ankit Garg,22,too would have been pursuing an MBA degree had he not been waylaid by modelling. “My parents wanted me to join the family business but I wanted to give modelling a try,” said Garg,who finished graduation last year from Delhi University. He was egged on by his friends to join the industry where he has built “formidable contacts”,thanks to rubbing shoulders with designers at parties. Last year,he walked down the runway for designer Manoviraj Khosla. “ I would like to stay on in fashion. I believe I can do much more,” said Garg,who shifted base to Delhi in 2007.