Monikangana Dutta: I'm an extremist

Monikangana Dutta's meteoric rise to the top of the Indian fashion world is the stuff of legend. But she's also an approachable, down-to-earth girl, with a touch of spirituality and a great sense of humour.

Rediff.com caught up with the exotic looker in the halls during Day Three of the Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai.

Personal Style

I'm an extremist, so I usually wear something really, really crazy or something classy and elegant. Never anything in between. (laughs).

Like what I'm wearing now, a funny t-shirt and Narendra Kumar pants. They're fun.

Dieting and exercise

I don't do any of that. I do yoga. Also, I've become a vegetarian recently. About three months ago, I was in Nepal doing a spiritual pilgrimage. And I was inside a temple and this chicken was killed right in front of me, and I guess it really bothered me. I haven't eaten meat since then.

Advice for aspiring models

Be focused. Be yourself.

6'0 Rahul Singh looks like he just stepped out of a catalogue.

We caught the model in the midst of a quiet reverie in between shows on Day Three of the Lakme Fashion Week in Mumbai.

Personal style

I like to wear denim and a sleeveless t-shirt or a ganji. I'm all about being casual.

How do you stay in shape?

I do a lot of dancing, like 2-3 hours a day. I dance six days a week. It's a huge passion of mine. I also hit the gym 2 or 3 times a week, to life, in order to get just the right amount of muscle.

Modelling as a career?

I love it. Walking the ramp is an experience unlike all others. It's amazing. I've also done a good bit of theatre. I love acting, and being an actor is my final destination. But right now I'm just trying to balance both, being a model and an actor.

One interesting opportunity I've been exploring is music videos: I've done six of them till now. Music videos force you to act and dance on camera, so it's a great learning experience.