Sneak peek: The madness behind the calm at LFW

Rajesh Karkera offers these fascinating insights into all the backstage happenings at the Lakme Fashion Week.

Madness is really the only word to describe the scenes unfolding backstage at a fashion week.

There is, almost always, someone rushing, someone shouting out into an earpiece at someone and losing it.

But there are moments, brief moments, when all is calm.

This is one of them.

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Then there are times when you want to just blow your lid, give it all up and walk away.

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Even though you might at first think of this place as being disorganised and chaotic, the backstage is an almost zero error zone.

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Entry is restricted and everyone knows exactly what they are doing.

Fashion industry's bitterest critics are bound to be amazed with the clockwork precision of this place.

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For most part, the backstage area is a dimly lit place.

When they talk about people working away from the limelight, in the shadows, they mean it literally.

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But it isn't as gloomy as you might want to believe.

The fashion week backstage is also a fun place. Or at least is fun to the people who know how to have it :-)

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Each season brings in a batch of new models.

You meet new people, chat, make friends -- heck who needs Facebook if you're here?!

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Oh come on, who are we kidding! What's a fashion show without a selfie on Facebook right? ;-)

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Ah well…

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When the runway isn't being floodlit for the show, it is being used for rehearsals.

Several designers demand multiple rehearsals. Some even more, causing inordinate delays.

The grand finale show especially, is almost always a couple of hours late.

Perfection? Vanity?

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For anyone who’s given any sort of public performance, the defining moment is the one when you step out of the wings -- that one fraction of a second when you know you cannot turn back.

Seen here is Archana Akhil Kumar as she steps out tentatively on the runway.

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Her make-up and hair done, a model awaits her turn to be dolled up.

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Carol Gracias takes a moment from her crazy schedule to pose for us.

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Penny for your thoughts pretty lady?

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That right there is Clint Fernandes, one of India's highest paid make-up artistes who has no airs, no hang-ups and loves being in the trenches, his stature notwithstanding.

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It isn't just the models who have long days, even the stage hands are at it from sunrise to way past most of our bedtimes.

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Sucheta Sharma takes a moment out to pose for a photographer.

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LFW veteran model Candice Pinto smiles as she and her colleagues seem to be keenly watching the runway proceedings.

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The fashion week backstage is, in so many ways, the microcosm of the all the aspirations of young India. Dreams are made here, careers and lives too!

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So you see why we love this place so much.

It is a fantastic place to be!

Besides the pretty girls and smashing hot boys, this is where you see some of the greatest names in the business at work.

It is fun too but when it’s go time, all smiles stop, sleeves are rolled and it’s down to business.

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