The Bad Side Of Brawn

He's known to speak his mind,be it while choreographing models on the ramp or addressing pre-fashion show meets.

As auditions begin for the mens fashion week,Talk speaks to a fashion choreographer who is directing a film on the challenges faced by male models

He’s known to speak his mind,be it while choreographing models on the ramp or addressing pre-fashion show meets. But it seems that Delhi-based fashion choreographer Kaushik Ghosh is looking for a wider audience. Ghosh claims to be scripting a film,which he will also direct,on the Indian fashion industry from a male models point of view. I have been living and breathing fashion for nearly 16 years and know the intricacies of the industry, says Ghosh,who feels theres a story to be told,specially one that showcases the challenges that male models face. Its not easy for a newcomer to find a foothold in the male modeling scene and and I have seen enough catfights back stage,egos clasah and it can all be very ugly, says Ghosh,who has been living with the story for a while and only recently has begun to put the plot together. Although its premature to talk about the project,I can tell you that it wont be an all-out negative story, asserts the fashion choreographer who feels the need to take up direction was a natural progression. Bollywood is always the next stop,not just for models alone, he adds.

Ghosh says that brawn has an uglier,lesser seen side. Theres lots of work for male models,be it through shows or endorsements. Competition is fierce and theres a lot of professional jealously, says Ghosh,whose film will also touch upon cases of male models moonlighting as gigolos. Ive seen how some models come and achieve success and then suddenly fade away. There are many stories out there waiting to be told, he says,perhaps also wanting to generate shock through his announcements.

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Fashion week regular and a popular name in the current crop of male models,Delhi-based Amit Ranjan,isnt surprised by Ghoshs insight. Professional jealousy is everywhere and,now with the mens fashion week picking up,everyone wants their share of the pie, admits Ranjan,who sees a never ending stream of newcomers try out for a place on the ramp. Aspirations are high but it takes a lot of talent and hard work to get noticed, adds Ranjan,who has worked with Manish Malhotra,Rocky S,Sabyasachi Mukherjee,Rohit Bal and Ashish Soni among other designers.

But Ranjan doesnt disagree with Ghosh on the presence of gigolos in the industry. To be successful,one needs a lot of patience. Some people,however,choose to take shortcuts. Once you work your way up the hard way,no one even approaches you for all that, says the model.

Though Ghosh suggests that the male modelling scene in India is cut-throat,Delhi-based designers like Pankaj Ahuja disagree. On the contrary,I think male models have a nice camaraderie among themselves. One often sees them work-out together in gyms and even support each other on shows, feels Ahuja. Question him on whether gigolos are for real and Ahuja is honest with his reply. Yes,they do exist. But at the end of the day,your talent will take you places,nothing else.

Nevertheless,Ghosh seems to have spent a good amount of time backstage with models and,while hes ready to script his film,the choreographer is tightlipped about who he will cast.

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The main protagonist will be a fresh face. I dont want to cast someone well-known,as the story is of a newcomer male model and his struggles, says Ghosh,who admires films by Hrishikesh Mukherjee and Basu Chatterjee.

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fashion week