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She walks in glory

Miss India Universe 2005, Amrita Thapar, shares her experiences about her journey into the world of glamour

PHOTO: C.V. SUBRAHMANYAM

CHARMING Amrita Thapar

Beauty and fame can take people to unimaginable heights, far away to a world of wonders. The Miss India crown and celebrity status indeed changed her life radically but Amrita Thapar, Miss India Universe 2005, is as warm and spirited as before. "All this glamour and beauty is very shortlived. The only thing that stays with a person is education and their contribution to society," says the charming Amrita.

A fashion designer by profession, Amrita plans to launch her designer label shortly. "Indian ethnic wear is a big craze abroad. The people there love wearing jootis and jhoomkas," she says. "I don't follow fashion blindly. I would not do something just because it is the in-thing. I follow my own style," she adds.

Amrita got her first recognition in a music video produced by Radhika Rao. "That was when I started receiving more modelling offers," she says. With that she made her mark in music and acting and then the unbelievable happened. She became Miss India, Universe, 2005. "I believe there is always a right time for every thing. I didn't want to hastily participate in the Miss India contest after my first break for I was only 18 years old then. I always take any new venture in life after full preparation," says a confident Amrita.

So hasn't the contest changed her life much? The journey has been eventful and exciting for her, but at the same time she misses her private space. "I love going to the road side stalls and having chaat. But that's something which I can't do now," she says.

Tough work

Everyone thinks this is a glamorous profession. "But it's very difficult to survive here. Sometimes I get to sleep for only two hours in a day," she admits.

Beyond this for the last one year she has been going through a strict regimen to get into the shape desired of a Miss India. "I had to avoid chocolates for six months and it's definitely not so cool to survive on just salads and fruits!" she exclaims.

While the crown gave her "a glamorous high" and fashion designing "a creative high", her active involvement in social work assures her "complete personal satisfaction". This 24-year-old also nurtures dreams to work for the society. She is actively involved in many social and welfare activities involving leukaemia, cancer and AIDS patients. Amrita's beauty secret is exercising whenever she can find the time. "I do yoga and martial arts regularly," she reveals.

After the social work and basking in the limelight of the beauty industry, the arc lights are waiting to be switched on. Acting is very much in the offing, but "I want to be fully prepared before signing any offer," she says. Right now she has received a few offers from Bollywood but hasn't finalised on anything. "One must chart his or her own destiny through hard work and discipline," she believes.

NIVEDITA GANGULY

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