I don’t think I’m conventionally good looking: Milind Soman

28/08/2014

Although he's turning 50 next year, but former supermodel and actor Milind Soman continues to exude charm. Supermodel, actor, producer, philanthropist and fitness freak, Milind's always had girls swooning over his droolworthy looks since his first ramp appearance in 1988. Milind, who was in town recently to promote a fitness event, opened up to AT about why fitness is such an important part of his life and more. Excerpts from a chat:
MODELING NOW AND THEN Modeling happened just by chance, I did not even know such a profession existed. All my family members are into academics and I had no connection with the glamour industry. I was shocked with the kind of money they were paying for doing nothing. I was lucky to be there when the fashion industry in India was just taking off. It is not that I am an amazingly good looking guy. I am good, but it all worked because I was there at the right time. The current lot of models in India have it much tougher. When I started we were just three male models, so we were doing all the shows across the world. It's good that people still remember what I did back then, and it helps me grab attention when I want to do something meaningful.
FITNESS PHILOSOPHY I started swimming when I was 10 years old, but started running at 38, I will be 50 next year. After running for these many years, I began to explore different forms of running. I wanted to spread the message of healthy living but did not know how to do it. Then I thought that women always influence the family in a big way. If they understand first the value of regular exercise, they will spread that message by example. When I started, people said that women don't want to do all this. But it is us who discourage women. So I want to spread as much awareness about fitness as I can.
MOVIES AND MORE I do movies because I enjoy doing them. It also helps people recognizing me. I try to do at least one film a year so that people don't think that haan yeh pagal sirf daudta nahi hai idhar udhar, kuch aur bhi karta hai. So I do films in different languages, whatever comes my way, as long as it doesn't take too much of my time. That's why I never did too much TV. When I did TV, there were very few soaps. But now that daily soaps have virtually taken over the prime slot on Hindi GECs, I've stopped doing fiction TV. I get offers but it is impossible for me to commit a lot of days. TV gives a lot of money, but it is not satisfying because then you can't do anything else. I never thought of Bollywood movies as a career because I feel it restricts you. It gives you fame and money. But I cannot give all my days for acting and do nothing else.
It is not exciting to just make people laugh and dance. Bajirao Mastani is exciting but when Sanjay Leela Bhansali shoots, he requires a lot of commitment because he shoots at that grand scale. I have not been a part of a project that is so big for years, so I took this up.
CITY CONNECT I have been to Ahmedabad many times in last 30 years. It has changed, but not that much. The people are very warm and the most hospitable in the country.

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