#MeToo hits Indian fashion
A decade ago, Madhur Bhandarkar’s ‘Fashion’ showed the dark side of the industry, which highlighted the exchange of favours for work
It’s rampant in the fashion world, say Indian male models, admitting that in many cases people “compromise” to get work as emerging models seek “instant success”.
Model Kawaljit Singh Anand’s open accusation aimed at designer Vijay Arora opened up the #MeToo discussion about harassment that male models face.
Kabir Duhan Singh, now a popular actor in the South Indian film industry and who is soon going to make his Bollywood debut, says nobody can touch anyone without permission. He said during his time, he did not get work for almost a year because he was not open to socialising with designers at their places.
“I think it is on us how we present ourselves in front of others. I used to see models getting drunk with designers and dancing with them with their hands going everywhere. So, if you are giving them such liberty, they will take advantage of it, and the same goes for Bollywood,” Singh said over the phone.
He says one has to create a boundary. “The current crop in the modelling industry is very open and they want to achieve success in a short period,” he added.
Born and brought up in Faridabad, Singh moved to Mumbai in 2011 and took up modelling as a career. His acting career started with Telugu film
Jil, which won him positive reviews.
He says focusing on work and having faith in your talent would give you work. “Be professional. Don’t give [designers] liberty. I think models are pressurised and they get scared that saying ‘no’ will take away work,” he said.
Amit Ranjan, another established name in the industry, now has a production house by the name of AR Productions, which organises fashion events. He says he always knew about how the fashion industry works even before he entered it in 2007.
“I think in the fashion industry, male models are exploited a lot because they get less money compared to female models. They are moulded by designers who groom them. They function on the concept of ‘I will take care of you, if you take care of me’. That’s why nobody takes anyone’s name because it is mutual,” said Ranjan.
“There are many leading designers,” he said, “who get messages from boys who are ready to do everything. So obviously, the other person will take advantage of that. These boys seek instant success so I won’t blame one party,” Ranjan said, adding that he wanted to tell the boys that they should believe in themselves, be honest and follow their dreams.
He also said that such models should not use the #MeToo movement for publicity.
Designer Varija Bajaj says that she has been sitting back and observing everything the movement. “Yes, it does exist in the fashion industry and it is not just about men against women, but also about men against men, especially in designing fraternity, and women against women,” she said.
“I think the way th #MeToo movement has come forward, I really applaud all the people who have come forward so that at least when next time somebody thinks of doing it, he or she will think ten times and that’s a very big change. It takes a lot of courage to talk about it.” said Bajaj.
NO GUIDANCE
Model Bharat Sharma said that no fashion institute or fashion pageant teaches a budding person, be it male or female, about how to deal with situation where sexual favours are demanded by big names or celebrities.
“Male models come in the bottom of the food chain of client designer-choreographer back stage crew-make-up artists and stylists — with one exception: If you are some designer’s boyfriend then you are special,” he said.
He said that for a male fashion model, careerbuilding becomes more and more difficult once he says no to advances. A straight male model is treated like a liability in fashion circuit.
Inder Bajwa, an established model who has now moved to his hometown in Punjab and is working with sportspersons, says every industry works on the same lines, and everyone suffers.
“Some fight against it and some mould themselves, accordingly. Nobody can escape. I would say be patient and go slow,” Bajwa said.