Pallavi Das: Gradually my parents accepted me

'When your parents don't support you, the struggle becomes a little extra difficult for you. But I would always keep them in the loop informing them wherever I went, whatever work I did,' says model Pallavi Das about the biggest challenge of her career

Photograph: Uday Kuckian/Rediff.com

Age: 26
Height: 5 ft 8 in
Weight: 54 kg
Hometown: Dispur, Assam
Education: BA Sociology

Big break

Four years ago, I was working with Lubna Adams and that's when I realised how much I love the photo shoots.

I walked for Tarun Tahiliani in 2010 and that was my first big break in modelling.

I was nervous and scared like any other newcomer. But after the show, I got to work on a couple of commercials and photo shoots.

I worked with designers Shantanu and Nikhil, Neeta and Nishka Lulla among a host of others.

I did a Tanishq jewellery shoot and was elected the Vogue Model of the year for 2013.

The challenges

My parents weren't quite convinced about me pursuing this profession.

None of my family members or cousins had been a model so it was hard for them to accept it.

In the initial days, they would often tell me how modelling did not offer a fixed monthly income.

When your parents don't support you, the struggle becomes a little extra difficult for you. But I would always keep them in the loop informing them wherever I went, whatever work I did.

I would send the magazines home and soon they realised that the work I did involved a lot of hard work.

Gradually they accepted me and now they're equally excited about my work.

The perks

Every girl likes to dress up and take pictures. As a model, I get paid for doing exactly that. Isn't that wonderful?

I was in South Africa for four months and in Sri Lanka I shot a campaign for Spa Ceylon.

I recently saw the posters in Mumbai and it felt real good.

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The flipside

The television commercials can go long hours and can be really exhausting. If you're doing a shoot back to back, your health is sure to suffer.

You may not get time to sleep but you are expected to look fresh the following day.

Health and beauty tips

If you are in the glamour industry, you cannot afford to be lazy.

I dance about four hours a day -- two hours in the morning and two in the evening.

I don't go overboard with my diet. I have a balanced diet.

Fortunately I don't like junk food.

I like home cooked food. Whenever I get the time, I also do yoga.

Advice to aspirants

When you're in this profession, you need to understand what the designer or choreographer wants from you and be that person.

Safety tips

When you're in a new place with new people, you must be alert of your surroundings. Be sure who you hang out with.

Be observant and try not to do anything adventurous. Dress according to the occasion.