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A rise to the top

Last Updated 24 March 2018, 08:30 IST

When Atul Kasbekar becomes a part of any show, you know that the bars have been raised. The renowned photographer, known for his unmatched Kingfisher Calendar, is back on the telly with Top Model India, on Colors Infinity. Also busy with his production company Ellipsis Entertainment (that made acclaimed films like Neerja and Tumhari Sulu), Atul has a lot on his plate at the moment and seems to be wearing all the hats with ease.

In an interview with Sunday Herald, the man talks about the A-Z of entertainment. Edited excerpts:

What got you attracted to 'Top Model India'?

The show is part of an internationally recognised franchise and Akash Sharma (executive producer) is an old friend. So, it was a no-brainer of sorts. I was more than happy to be part of any process that contributed towards bringing back the concept of the supermodel.

What has the experience been like?

The show was extremely well-organised, and my compliments to the production team for that. People were focused, amiable and clear about what they wanted. All in all, I look forward to being invited again next year.

Tell us a little bit about your fellow judges on the show.

I have known Lisa (Haydon) and Anaita (Shroff) for years and we share a sense of healthy respect and old friendship. We were all very tuned in to each other and complemented each other effectively. The feedback from the public has also been great.

How has modelling evolved from the early days of your career?

There is a great amount of professionalism. People take their nutrition and workouts very seriously and understand that their face and body are their fortunes. Also, the support systems that help modelling like hair, make-up and styling have all reached a different level altogether.

But why can't we still produce a Kendall Jenner or Gigi Hadid?

The international standards require girls to be 5'9 and over. This is considerably taller than the average Indian female height. Our girls also need to rough it out in advanced markets like Milan, Paris, New York and London to be seen as contenders over the long term. The other important fact is that models abroad are well into the thick of it by 18 and here, we logically feel that kids should have some sense of education before they keep going. It would be difficult for an Indian parent to send a 17-year-old to an international market.

You recently said that 'We killed the concept of the supermodel'. Why do you think that?

There are a lot of factors for this. Our country is obsessed with fair skin and as a direct correlation of that, there has been a slew of international models that come to India. All these models are transient and gypsies by nature. They follow an international modelling circuit by spending time in different destinations like Bangkok, Singapore, Cape Town and Dubai. As a result, they are not keen on signing complicated paperwork and that ineffectively kills the scope for Indian models, whose only way out then is to make a quick transition to acting to earn any real money.

What about photography? How has it evolved over the years?

I have been on both sides of the analogue and digital fence. A lot of photographers today have, perhaps, never shot with roll film at all. Personally, I think that conceptually and fundamentally, my in-depth knowledge and experience of working with roll film has given me a great advantage over those who have only learned the digital shooting process. But change is inevitable and the future of photography is clearly digital.

What do you think of Bollywood actors walking the ramp?

I don't have an issue with it. But I have an issue when a show is not taken seriously if there is no great showstopper. When the biggest designers in the world showcase their garments, they are basically showcasing just that, the garments. The celebrities, in most cases, are actually sitting in the audience admiring the true stars of the day, which is the clothing.

What advice do you have for budding models and photographers?

To budding models, I would say that your mom and aunt are not the best judges of how good you look. I urge you to ask for some brutally honest advice from other people. I advise photography enthusiasts to broaden their knowledge by studying art, design, colour and graphics. Also, photography is a passion-led profession and one should only look at it professionally if he or she is obsessed with creating an image.

You travel to gorgeous locales for your shoots. Which is your favourite?

I am particularly fond of Mykonos as a location as the weather is genuinely invigorating. I prefer to shoot outside the tropics as then you don't perspire so much, which is comfortable for the talent as well as the photography crew.

Is there any place that you would love to go to?

Yes, Cuba is very high on my bucket list. And before it gets completely
transformed, thanks to the relaxation
of travel rules, I am keen on going there.

Both your films have been different and worked well with the masses. How do you choose your scripts?

The first question I ask myself is 'would I buy a ticket to watch this movie?' The second is 'what is the commercial viability of such a project?' We, at Ellipsis, would like to make movies that are commercially viable as well as products that we are genuinely proud of. We have announced Cheat India, a film on education scams starring Emraan Hashmi, which is a co-production with T-Series, which is slated to release in January next year. There are also a whole bunch of films in the pipeline.

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(Published 24 March 2018, 08:30 IST)

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