A fashion model is an individual who displays clothing and accessories for prospective buyers, photographers, and public in general. Though a gender-neutral term, modelling is primarily associated with women, which is understandable considering the fact that females outnumber males by a large margin in the fashion industry. Fashion models are of multiple types, such as… well, that’s not the point of discussion; we’re here to know the association, if it exists, of modelling with films.
To begin, most lead actors, particularly females, have had a career in modelling before making their acting debut. Whether it’s Aishwarya Rai, Deepika Padukone or Disha Patani, this claim holds true. This is because there are a set of physical attributes models are expected to meet to succeed in the industry; the most significant and widely known of them is, of course, body measurements. Though models don’t aim to look attractive, they end up doing so. After all, facial symmetry, fitness, healthy skin, teeth, and hair are some must-have attributes of a model, and they happen to overlap with conventional beauty standards. In simple terms, fashion models often have pretty faces and attractive bodies. This is the exact reason why most casting directors turn to magazine covers, photoshoots, and ad commercials while looking for an actor. Also, most models have considerable experience facing the camera, since building a portfolio with professional photos is how people begin modelling careers, which would certainly make a filmmaker’s job easier while a film is under production. And needless to say, cinema is a visual medium, and glamour is a key element of being an actor.
Yes, models have the advantage of being comfortable in front of the camera, but that alone is insufficient to land roles. This is the reason why models, who aspire to make a career in films, take acting classes and workshops. Today, film schools teach much more than just acting, such as analysing a script, breaking a character down into their fundamental qualities, accents, ability to improvise, etc. To conclude, modelling is a field that requires you to have an immaculate appearance. On the other hand, acting is an intricate form of art where you need to get into the skin of the character, emote, and display a wide range of characteristics. While it has been proven that models can make a big impact in the film industry, a successful modelling career alone cannot make you a superstar.
Manushi Chillar, a model by profession, was crowned Miss World in 2017, following which she made her acting debut opposite Akshay Kumar in Samrat Prithviraj (2022).
