Shruti Agrawal

Close-up with Shruti Agrawal

SHE IS: Shruti Agrawal

BACK TO THE BASICS: Second daughter to an ex-Army man and his Sikkimese wife, Shruti’s elder sibling works for an airline. Before this 24-year-old took to modelling, she studied in Pune and then lived briefly in New Zealand while completing a postgraduate diploma in public relations and communication there.

THE BIG BREAK: Came when she won the Miss Pune May Queen pageant in 1999 and was coaxed by friends to sign up for the Miss India contest after that.

YEARS ON THE RAMP: She’s been part of the circuit on and off for five years.

THE ASSIGNMENT SHE’D MOST LIKE TO TOM-TOM: Her first television commercial — the Pepsi Khoofiya ad that featured Saif Ali Khan and was directed by Prahlad Kakar. “It was a small part, but brought huge visibility and gave me the chance to work with great people!” she says, explaining her choice.

RAMP CATASTROPHE: Another ‘sari’ state of affairs, with Shruti’s high heels getting caught in the sari’s pleats causing her to trip twice during the same show.

THE LAST TIME SHE GOT DRUNK: “It’s been over four years, maybe even longer,” she confesses, adding that she’s not much of a drinker anyway. “I’ll sip on the occasionally glass of wine, that’s all.”

HER TOP BEAUTY SECRET: She never ever goes to bed without washing her face.

SHE’S MOST GUILTY ABOUT EATING: Popcorn and muffins. “I can eat a tray full of muffins without even realising it,” she laughs.

IF SHE WEREN’T A MODEL: Shruti thinks she may have been at the helm of her own PR agency.

THE NEXT STEP: “I’m taking life as it happens,” she signs off, while she waits for better endorsements and film offers to come her way.