'I generally refuse to date models & actors'

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Having modelled in the US and in India, Vida is able to speak authoritatively about differences between the two. "I've walked in Florida, LA, and New York, and compared to those places, fashion in India is definitely a little different. The importance of punctuality, the sense of professionalism, it's not the same. But Lakme and Wills always manage to ensure the envents are well-organized."

When she first arrived in India, as a model she worked 16 hours days, from 5 am till late into the night. But nowadays, with her increased name recognition, she's more commonly used as a showstopper. "Being a showstopper is great," she says. "You work for a few hours, are paid like triple the amout, and get a new outfit!"

But has the financial crisis affected her? "In general, it's had an effect on the fashion industry. But I think India's been able to avoid the worst of it. In my case, I'm still getting plenty of work: runway offers, commercial modeling offers, and more script-readings than ever."

While working on the film Black and White, director Subhash Ghai told Vida that she should never give up acting, she says, and his encouragement helped convince her to stick with Bollywood. She'll soon feature in a song in the upcoming release Acid Factory, and has several other projects lined up as well.

So she's succeeding on the professional front, clearly. But how about her love life? "Sucks," she says, with an expression of exaggerated gloom. "I feel like Indian guys and myself are just not on the same page. I'm not saying I'm better, or they're better; it's just that they seem to have different expectations, whether it's getting married right away or something else. In India, you don't just get involved with a person, you get involved with his best friend, his parents, his brother, his sister, and so on."

But, Indian or not, do mere mortals have a chance of dating her, the non actors and non models? "Of course!" she proclaims. "I generally refuse to date models and actors. I prefer the corporate guy with a stylish suit and tie. Intelligent and well-mannered are important too. Oh, and frangrance is a must! You have to smell good."

Also see: Genelia, Tusshar walk for Manisha Malhotra

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