Neha Dhupia
Neha Dhupia

Among the many stars who graced the catwalk at Lakme Fashion Week, few dazzled on the ramp the way Neha Dhupia did. The pretty star walked for designer Payal Singhal and she tells us that she was actually having a conversation while gliding down the catwalk.

With whom, you ask? Listen to what she reveals:

Team MissMalini: What did you like most about Payal’s collection for summer / resort 2014?

Neha Dhupia: I hadn’t seen to much of her collection till this evening when I was backstage. I was sitting over there and getting jealous of all the things the other models were wearing too. But in retrospect, I had no reason to be jealous because she gave me one of her loveliest pieces.

What I’m wearing today is this beautiful, black, linen shift dress with a half lehenga-skirt. The entire feel of the collection is very French / Moroccon and it’s been styled with very edgy jewelry. It’s a bit of me. It’s a bit of her. It’s actually more Payal because she styled and designed the whole look. I feelt great in it. Even walking down the ramp, it was easy, it was breezy, it was great!

Neha Dhupia
Neha Dhupia

Team MM: What do you think about when you walk down the ramp?

ND: I keep telling myself, “Don’t smile! Models don’t smile!” So I try hard to keep a straight face. But from inside I’m all excited and smiling and say hi to all the people. So basically, what I’m thinking about and what I actually do is a complete contrast.

Today, I was under a lot of pressure because I’m wearing this half-skirt and I had to make it twirl. Before the show, Payal’s given me this big talk about making the skirt twirl. So I was having a conversation with this skirt. I was telling it, “Please turn. Payal has invested a lot of time and effort in making this half skirt. Turn. Make sure you turn!”

When it finally twirled on the ramp, I was like, “Whew! Now I can smile!” It’s a big story for like, twenty seconds!

Payal Singhal, Neha Dhupia
Payal Singhal, Neha Dhupia

Team MM: are celebrity show-stoppers important for fashion shows?

ND: I feel that show-stoppers are effective if they can relate to the personality of the clothes. And if the clothes can be enhanced by the celebrity presence, then sure! But if the designer just wants to over-compensate, then not at all.

As for the people who think that a celebrity’s presence takes away from the clothes – well, that are always people who will have their opinions. and we all know, opinions are like “beep” everybody has one!

Personally, I don’t care! I love fashion and it feel great to walk down the ramp.

More Photos:

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Pix: Viral Bhayani for MissMalini