Sometimes things just happen out of the blue… so was my acquaintance with the, beautiful, vibrant and successful Achla Sachdev. On August 29, a horribly humid, boring, sultry afternoon, my younger daughter and I had been to a city parlour for our haircuts, oblivious to what was in store for us. We entered and were just settling down when Jula (who is the owner of Citi Lady as well as a well known beautician), suddenly said that her friend Achla was in town as her guest, on a short holiday trip to Assam. Barely a few minutes later, Achla arrived at the parlour and thus we met.

This young lady has been on the top rungs of the ladder throughout her career in the fashion world for the past fifteen years or so. What created an impression on me was her down to earth, friendly, warm, and pleasant attitude. What followed was an informal interview where she shared with us something about herself. For this, I must surely thank Jula also for her cooperation, without which this interview might not have happened.

• Could you say something about yourself and the starting point of your professional life?

I was born and brought up in Mumbai. I had started working right after my graduation( in the commerce stream) at my sister’s advertisement firm. I had always had a fascination for advertising, which I considered glamorous and the glamour world of Mumbai had always been an attraction. I worked under her, starting with doing even the most little things as picking up the models’ clothes etc. As time passed, I organised the shoots and this went on for almost a year. In the meanwhile, I was approached to do some modelling and I did an ad or two. So, in the process, I was learning about the small things that are very important later on. I participated at the Navy Queen contest – a beauty pagaent, and was crowned the Queen that year. Then, there was a quest for models in Mumbai by the well-known international couture house YSL, for which I was chosen amongst 60 internationally acclaimed models and guess what? At the end, I was chosen to be the bride – the highest rank of that phase of modelling. I enjoyed working. This definitely gave a very good boost to my career and my confidence as well.

Then, in between, I had the chance of working as an airhostess in the Panam Airlines. I just cannot forget my delight when I made it to Miami on my own…. my first foreign trip with my own efforts. I had always wanted to work as an air hostess. I worked with them for one-year. From this, I learned a lot about grooming myself. I also learnt quite a lot about the finesse of life from all the beautiful things that I saw around me. Just imagine! All this was happening when I was around just 20 years of age.

The ramp had always attracted me.So, after my stint in the air, I came back to the Mumbai fashion industry to work as a model. I worked mainly under Hemant Trivedi, who is a doyen of the fashion industry. I also worked with Lubna Adams. On my journey, I learnt many things that have made me who I am today.

Right now, I am a model coordinator and a model choreographer. I have also hosted a model hunt reality show for Zoom TV called The Diva Quest.

I am also in the line of fashion for films. There is a lot of fashion in films nowadays, so we have a lot to do there too.I was in total charge of the fashion show that was shown in the film Money Hai To Honey Hai.

I had acted in a few films earlier but am waiting for the big event of the release of Madhur Bhandarkar’s movie Fashion. He has chosen me to play the role of the model choreographer in the film with, of course, a different name, and has chosen another coordinator and choreographer as well as me to do the actual choreography and act as coordinator for the film. This is something really big. As always, Madhur has done quite a bit of research work for this film and it projects a lot about the industry.The casting is really good, with Priyanka Chopra, Kangana etc. It should be a very good film, I feel.

I’ve always had an aim and ambition to succeed, and have been very career oriented. I had the self-confidence, fire and will to succeed, knowing myself and the talent within me. What I had to do was prove myself with hard work and true determination whenever the opportunity came to me.

• Are girls in anyway exploited in your industry?

No, no, definitely not. In fact, these young girls are exploiting the opportunities presented to them. Models are just living mannequins, but then they can always have their say as to what they are willing to wear and display and what they are not; and their decisions are given due respect. A girl takes up modelling by her own decision, so the question of exploitation does not arise.

• What would your statement on the fashion of the 2000s be?

Fashion is eclectic in the 2000s. But then, what is also happening is that some people dress up without paying heed to whether a particular dress that one is wearing is suitable to one’s surroundings, time, one’s figure etc.

• What do you feel about the craze for branded stuff?

Using branded sports shoes, jeans, sunglasses, and undergarments definitely give you more comfort and you do get good value for the money spent. However, beyond that, I feel that the craze is going a bit too far, like say huge amounts of money spent on a handbag or an accessory of that sort makes no sense. In a country like ours, I feel that if one can afford such huge amounts, instead of paying the already rich and famous companies, one shoud rather use the money for some charity or a good cause that would benefit many people.

• How would you describe yourself as a person? Also, how do you balance yourself?

I am a very God loving person, with a lot of gratitude to the Almighty, who has blessed me. I have done whatever I’ve wanted to do and have managed to be amongst the top five so far as my modelling career goes. I have managed to be in the first three positions as a model choreographer and coordinator for the last eight to ten years. All this could happen only with God’s blessings, besides hard work.

For me, life is a beautiful journey.

Every day, I crave to be a better human being and this is what matters the most…everything else then just falls into place, Each new day that God blesses us with, I feel, is a chance to amend the mistakes we may have made the day earlier. About four years back, I had read a book – Autobiography of a Yogi, written by Paramhansa Yogananda.I loved it so much that I joined his school, which has helped me ever since to grow as a human being and improve myself every single day.

Everyday, I meditate. I am extremely particular about it. This helps me to relax and strengthens me.

I exercise very regularly to keep fit. I read voraciously, especially inspirational books and try to imbibe the goodness that I read.

I also like to write. Writing is a hobby for me.

I love travelling. I have to travel quite a bit on work and I also try to take time off and travel.

I try to be adaptable as well as mix up freely with the people around me. This makes life easier and perhaps, that is the way I make friends along my journey of life.

I love Nature and also try to be in the midst of Nature… By the way, I love watching animals too, so I am planning a visit to the local zoo. Anything to do with Nature is very soothing and brings a lot of relaxation.

• Achla , do you like being in the North East?

Oh, yes, definitely. I have been associated with the North East through my close friends, one of them being Jula. Wherever you have friends, there is warmth. I love coming to Assam. I have visited Kaziranga and have done some travelling around, visiting quite a number of places- it is beautiful. The people here are also very nice and so is the food. Someday, I would definitely like to have a show here.

• What message would you like to leave for the younger generation?

Do not be swayed by glamour. You should spend a little time to really understand yourself to know what you really want, and would like doing. Set an aim and try to achieve it.

Enrich yourselves with a lot of reading – reading autobiographies of great people, inspirational books etc and try to imbibe what you have read.

Use, but never misuse the ample amount of time and opportunities and facilities around you and you will surely succeed.

RITU BARUAH