As told to Natasha Coutinho (MUMBAI MIRROR; August 20, 2018)

Before I became a model, I used to help backstage during fashion shows in Delhi, assisting the girls who were walking the ramp with their clothes and accessories, running around during photoshoots assembling clothes and more such chores. The money was good — Rs 300 a day was a big deal back then — and I got to work with many successful supermodels like Madhu Sapre, Noyonika Chatterjee, Carol Gracias, John Abraham, Dino Morea and Arjun Rampal among others.

I have also taken on odd jobs at auto expos during summer holidays to make some extra money. I would get between Rs 500-Rs 1000 a day and didn’t even know how to spend that much money.

I never imagined I would end up becoming a model and actress myself because while growing up, I was made to believe that I would become an IAS officer and do something for the country as my dad was in the navy. What life had in store for me and what I was working towards were completely different worlds.

One day, auditions were being held in various colleges for a stage production. It was being directed by Roshan Abbas and choreographed by Shiamak Davar. Cyrus Sahukar, Gaurav Kapoor, Samir Kochhar and my brother, Hardeep, were among those who auditioned for it. I went to pick up my best friend and Roshan spotted me. He asked if I’ve acted before and I exclaimed, “Never!” He told me I had just landed my first role.

During the theatre production, there was a photographer in the audience who wanted to do a photoshoot with me. He thought my face had the potential. While he was clicking me, he told me his agency was auditioning for a music video. This was in December 1998 and I landed that role too. My first music video, “Sha Na Na Na”, was directed by Pradeep Sarkar. Shoojit Sircar was the executive producer and it was for the band Euphoria. I had never travelled by air or been abroad but thanks to that music video I got to work with a popular rock band, be on TV and even got paid. By the time I came back to college, I was famous!

My mum and uncle then saw an advertisement for the auditions for Miss India. I went for it and was told I would have to lose 10 kgs in two weeks. I did and ended up winning the crown in 2002 (right, above). And got me plenty of modelling offers which I was only too happy to grab.

Being an assistant earlier helped when I became a model myself. I was very disciplined. No job was big or small for me as I understood the importance of coordination and collaboration. I have always been a stickler for perfection and the one thing that makes my blood boil is incompetence. I would lock myself up in a room and scream!

At the age of 20, I spent six months in Tokyo promoting my debut film, an Indo-Japanese project, Nattu Odoru! Ninja Densetsu (right), a major part of which was shot in Chennai. Living in a city where I had no connections was interesting. I liked the vibe of the place. My parents didn’t have a computer then so they would go to a cyber café to interact with me. It was all vert heart-warming.

Three years later, in 2003, my first Hindi film, Qayamat: City Under Threat (below), produced and directed by Harry Baweja, opened. I was cast opposite Ajay Devgn, and it was a big launch. Fifteen years later, I’m still around, awaiting the release of Helicopter Eela with Kajol and Riddhi Sen. The mother-son story is directed by Pradeep Sarkar. Life has come a full circle.