Daman Choudharry
Daman Choudharry

If you happen to be backstage at fashion week, you’re bound to see Daman Choudharry frantically running around with his call sheets, a pen and no time on his hands. Why? Because Daman, along with his business partner, Ravneet, own Runway, a backstage management team to ensure that every model is accounted for and every show is on schedule! So how does he survive Fashion Week? We asked just that!

A moment of peace before it all begins
A moment of peace before it all begins

Team MissMalini: It’s Fashion Week, your first thoughts?
Daman Choudharry: No sleep, long hours and a brilliant time!

Team MM: At Lakme Fashion Week (LFW), what awaits you? Give us a feel of the job?
DC: LFW has become such a part of my life! Backstage, our challenge is to make everything work so that once the music rolls, the show looks like a dream!

The charmer backstage!
The charmer backstage!

Team MM: How do you prepare for it?
DC: It requires a lot of strength, mentally and physically. But it comes naturally because I love what I do. Every minute of it!

Team MM: What are you looking forward to? And what are you dreading?
DC: A lot of tantrums, bitchy fights and gossip! Just kidding, the pace of fashion week is such an adrenalin rush! Love it!

All smiles between shows!
All smiles between shows!

Team MM: What keeps you going through the long hours?
DC: I have made so many friends all along these years and a lot at LFW. They keep me going.

Team MM: What’s in you fashion week kit? Must haves?
DC: My perfume, loafers, French thermal spring water to keep me looking refreshed. (Wink!)

Team MM: Bust one fashion week myth?
DC: “Models stop eating food for the week.” Ha ha!

Indrani Dasgupta, Kanishta Dhankar, Erika Packard and Daman
Indrani Dasgupta, Kanishta Dhankar, Erika Packard and Daman

Team MM: Any thing in particular that always freaks you out? How do you overcome it?
DC: It is hard to please everyone at all times! I stick to the larger notion – ‘The show must go on.’

Team MM: For the new kids on the block, what advice would you give to survive fashion week?
DC: It’s the best opportunity to find your own style! So much to absorb all around. And don’t forget to party hard!

Team MM: And finally, how do you plan to ‘survive’ it?
DC: The days are mad with work and the evenings with mad parties! And a little party never killed no body! 😉

Sony Kaur and Daman
Sony Kaur and Daman

So that was Daman’s side of the story. Stay tuned for more on our “How To Survive Fashion Week” series with a top model, a stylist/magician and the true rockstars at fashion week! And, of course, we’ll also bring you all the deets ‘n’ dish on and off the runway at Lakme Fashion Week.

Pix: Daman Choudharry