Amruta Patki has taken the modeling world in a storm. She's almost everywhere, be it on the ramp or in the advertising campaigns of big names. From the time she was declared as Miss India Earh in 2006, she has never looked back; she represented India in Miss Earth pageant, 2006 and was declared the 1 st Runners Up out of 82 contestants. She was featured in Femina's top 50 Most Beautiful Faces of India, 2007, and was declared winner of Indian Tele-Academy Awards (ITA) 2007 in the beauty category. She has also walked the ramp in Wills India Fashion Week 2006, Lakme Fashion Week 2007 and Chivas in Fashion Tours, for designers like Satya Paul, Tarun Tahiliani, Shobha Dey, Nita Lulla, Narendra Kumar, Dipikagehani, Manish Malhotra, Rocky S, Rohit Baal, Vikram Phadnis, Rohit Gandhi Rahul Khanna and Malini Ramani.
And she is also endorsing the brands like Pantaloons, Loreale, Happident, Sheetal (Hemant Trevedi), Samsonite, GRT Jewelers, Chennai, Oxemberg, W Garments and Hair & Care.
She also featured on the cover page of FEMINA in Nov.2006 and Nov 2007 issues, and advertised for Al Tawak Perfume tv commercial which is on air in U.A.E.
Amruta Patki has certainly proved that hard-work and determination can take someone places, and how!!"
MM. How would you describe your childhood?
A.P I was very shy and an introvert as a child. I was also a dreamer, I always dreamt of becoming famous. I was studious and at times mischievous, but I wasn't a difficult child.
MM. Has modeling always been your dream career?
A.P I never thought of becoming a model as a child. I am a trained singer in Indian Classical Music, I used to participate in inter school music competitions and win them too. I also used to act in plays.
MM. How did you go about realizing your dream to become a model?
A.P I made a brave decision to participate in a local beauty contest (brave because I had never worn a bikini publicly, I didn't swim either!!) I had to flaunt my body in a swim wear on stage! But after winning that contest I didn't have enough money to make my port folio, a young photographer clicked my pictures for an editorial for a magazine and I started distributing those pictures. The kind of feed back I got from everyone stunned me and I realized how beautiful I was!!
MM . What has been the high-point of your career after the crowning?
A.P After Miss India , the high point of my career was being declared as the 1 st Runner's Up for Miss Earth 2006, amidst 82 countries. But at the same time I also believe that “with great power comes great responsibility”. Since then there's no looking back for me.
MM. What has been the most memorable moment of your life?
A.P I live every moment to the fullest which makes every moment memorable and special. But as far as my professional life is concerned, I can never forget the day when I was shooting for Sheetal campaign for Hemant Trevedi, my second campaign ever. And while I was doing my make up he kept looking at me without saying a word and finally said, “Patki, you have a great potential, I can see you make it big, you have a stunning face…”
MM From the modeling world, who are the people you look up to?
A.P Ujjwala Raut, as I too lived a similar kind of a life style. We both had a traditional Marathi upbringing and faced a tough life in suburbs of Mumbai.
MM. How would you rate Indian models' prospects in the international scene?
A.P Indian models have great looks and stunning complexion and can do much better internationally. Indian modeling industry is growing, but we still lack good modeling agencies who can promote Indian models internationally as well.
MM. What are your views on the stereotyping of female models as tall, thin and fair?
A.P There are many aspects of modeling besides walking on the ramp. Like television commercials, prints, hoardings and magazines, they don't necessarily require tall and thin girls.
MM. What do you prefer more, walking on the ramp or facing the camera?
A.P I do enjoy facing the camera, but at the same time the ramp gives me a high and it has helped me overcome my stage fear
MM. How tough is the competition in the industry?
A.P Be it any industry, the competition is equally tough. But I know my strengths and short comings which help me stand out in this competitive world.
MM . What is a typical working-day like?
A.P They are never the same! I have days when I am working back to back for 20-25 days at a stretch in different cities, and at times in different countries, where the time when I get to sleep is only during flights.
MM . What are your plans for this year?
A.P I don't plan anything, I believe in god, everything is preplanned & predestined, and I live everyday to the fullest with 100% dedication towards personal and professional life
MM . What suggestions would you like to give to aspiring models?
A.P I am not a legend yet to be able give suggestions to anyone, but I can share my experiences with aspiring models where they can learn from or use them as guidelines. Be it any industry, people would like you not only for your work but also for your nature. To survive and sustain in this business one has to be strong, dedicated and intelligent enough to know where they stand amongst others. I try to turn my weaknesses into my strengths. For me it's just the beginning, the sky is the limit for me.
MM . How should an aspiring model enter the industry? Who should one approach?
A.P There isn't any formula for making headway into the modeling world. But one should remember that every work experience is like a baby to her mother, be it good, bad or ugly, it remains a part of your professional life forever. So take every step carefully so that you have no regrets later in life.
MM. Are you working on some Bollywood projects? If yes, which ones?
A.P Bollywood is always on my mind, and I am getting offers too. But nothing great worked out as yet. But I am not desperate to do a movie, if I do, I'd rather be a part of a big and good project where I will get to work with talented people, or I would not do any at all.
