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'I use my sensuality to attract others'
Star of Train and former Miss India Sayali Bhagat is cool with using her sensuality to hook others, but ensures her fave causes also get a place in the spotlight. Priyanka Jain comes back enlightened.
Miss India - World 2004 Sayali Bhagat is a mix of charm and sensuality and has a great figure to boast of. She continued modelling for two years after winning the pageant and has walked the ramp for most designers including Ritu Kumar, Satya Paul and Suneet Verma. She is the brand ambassador for Gitanjali Diamonds. She has also walked the ramp at the fashion weeks India and abroad.
Text: Priyanka Jain/ The Man
Photographs: Amit Ashar
Styling: Meghaa M Anand
Hair and Make-up: Baban Kharat
'After winning Miss India, my first choice was modelling'
Lady Luck has so far evaded her in films while other pageant winners like Priyanka Chopra and Aishwarya Rai have gone on to make successful careers in the film industry.
Although her debut film with Emraan Hashmi, The Train, premiered at the IIFA Awards in Yorkshire, it didn't give her career the boost she was hoping for.
After The Train, Sayali was seen in Halla Bol, Good Luck, Paying Guest and Jail. She has also acted in two south films.
"After winning Miss India, my first choice was modelling. Two years ago I shifted to acting as I like to explore different avenues. It gives me an opportunity to have a variety of experiences."
'There is more to me'
This year she has an interesting line up of films like Wilson Louis' horror film, Shout, Saint Who Thought Otherwise, Production No 1A, and two more films in south Indian languages. When asked about her Valentine wish, she says, "My only wish for the whole year is that I need a hit."
While talking about sensuality and intelligence she contradicts herself all the time.
"There is more to me. I hate it when people talk only about my sensuality. Yes, I use it to attract others but only for them to get to know me better. On dates I can talk and debate on almost anything. As a child, I played various games from table tennis, badminton to squash. I even represented Maharashtra for the 100 metres sprint. So when I meet men, I can talk to them about sport. Whether out on a date or serious, I am the 'impress me' type. For me, qualities like simplicity, humour, husband-material, etc, don't matter much. A simple gesture of sending medicine when I am not well is more welcome than trying to woo me with diamonds. I am single. I believe in marriage. I think it grounds one as a person. In that sense, I am old fashioned."
'I envy people living in Uganda'
In November last year, Sayali performed and hosted the International Film Festival of India held in Goa. Later, she went on to judge Miss Albania.
"I was invited by the Albanian Government to judge Miss Albania where I conducted workshops with the contestants," she says. "After winning the Miss India title I have continued to be a part of charity events. I was actively involved with the projects of Baba Amte and his son, Prakash Amte, for the conservation of forests and wild animals. I have been cultural ambassador for countries such as Egypt and Singapore.
"Recently I was invited by the government to visit Uganda. We raised US$ 25 million which was graciously accepted by the Honourable Prime minister of Uganda, Dr Appolo Nsimbabi."
Talking about her visit to Uganda she said, "I have been to South Africa but in Uganda people are warm and friendly. In my speech, I said that I envy people living here as they have an opportunity to live close to nature, and live without pollution. Being Indian, I got respect as they love Mahatma Gandhi. Although it's a developing country we could certainly learn to live close to nature from them."